Kilkenny have moved swiftly by appointing Derek Lyng as Brian Cody’s successor.
The six-time All-Ireland winning midfielder has been handed a three-year term, with the county board stating that “selectors and backroom team will be confirmed later”.
With Henry Shefflin in situ in Galway, Lyng was the early favourite to replace Cody when he stood down less than two weeks ago.
He managed the Kilkenny under-20 team to All-Ireland success earlier this year and has already served an apprenticeship as a selector alongside Cody for six seasons before taking on the role three years ago.
Lyng was a mainstay of Kilkenny’s four-in-a-row team from 2006-09 after winning his first two All-Irelands in 2002 and ‘03. He also won nine Leinster titles, five National Leagues and a pair of All Star awards, while he was a selector for their last two All-Ireland wins in 2014 and ‘15.
Speculation had mounted that Martin Fogarty, who was Cody’s right-hand man prior to Lyng coming on board, was in line to take the job but ultimately 44-year-old Emeralds clubman got the nod.
With Kilkenny having lost their last three All-Ireland finals, including last month’s decider to Limerick, since last winning the Liam MacCarthy Cup, Lyng will be tasked with ending the county’s longest drought at senior level since 1983-92.
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