Five Names In The Running To Be Appointed As Next Kilkenny Hurling Manager

It was announced on Tuesday evening that Derek Lyng had stepped down from his role as Kilkenny hurling manager, moving on after a disastrous 2026 campaign for the county.

Lyng had signed on for a new two-year term last winter. However, he ultimately felt now was the right time to leave the position after Kilkenny failed to achieve a top-three finish in the Leinster Championship.

The county will now be on the hunt for a new manager ahead of the 2027 season, with some intriguing names set to be in the mix.

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The next man in line, Henry Shefflin only stepped into a coaching role with Kilkenny for the first time this season after being appointed as U20 manager.

Of course, Shefflin has already amassed quite the CV elsewhere. He is a two-time All-Ireland winner with Ballyhale Shamrocks, as well as having had three seasons in charge of Galway.

While his spell out west was a mixed one, that is unlikely to count against him when it comes to his prospects of getting the Kilkenny job.

The county's greatest ever player stepping into the void could be just the thing that's needed to get the team back on track.

It is difficult to overstate just how impressive Brian Dowling has been during his spell at Kildare manager.

Taking over a side who were recently relegated to hurling's third tier, he has gone on to have three hugely successful seasons with the Lilywhites. They would win the Christy Ring Cup in 2024, following it up with another triumph in the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2025.

While they were relegated from the Leinster Championship this season, they did produce some encouraging performances and also comfortably retained their place in Division 1B of the league.

Dowling previously guided the Kilkenny camogie team to successive All-Ireland titles and has also won three All-Ireland crowns with at post-primary level with St Kieran's.

One of Kilkenny's greatest ever players, Brian Hogan has also had a successful stint in management in recent seasons.

Taking over at home club O'Loughlin Gaels a number of years ago, leading them to county and provincial success in 2023. He has since joined the Kilkenny U20 coaching team under Henry Shefflin.

That would suggest he is behind his former teammate in the running to be senior manager, although it is not out of the question that he could take the top job for 2027.

Having been part of Derek Lyng's coaching team in 2026, Eddie Brennan certainly has an insight into the current Kilkenny panel.

Brennan has had some impressive spells as a manager in his own right, winning a Joe McDonagh Cup with Laois in 2019. He also won a Leinster title with the Kilkenny U21s a few years prior.

Having only been brought into the senior setup ahead of this season, the Graigue-Ballycallan clubman would no doubt have hoped for a longer stint than just one year in the senior inter-county setup and may throw his hat into the ring for the top job.

Noel Doherty is another name with recent experience in the Kilkenny senior setup, having been part of Derek Lyng's coaching team in 2025.

That year was a difficult one for him, serving a suspension that meant he was not involved with the side until well into the spring. He then opted not to return as a selector in 2026.

Doherty has an impressive track record as a manager in his own right, leading Thomastown to county, provincial, and All-Ireland glory at intermediate level in 2022/23. They would go on to claim the senior Kilkenny crown in 2024.

While he decided to step away from the setup last year, Doherty may be attracted by the proposition of the managerial position if he is in the running.