KILKENNY boss Derek Lyng has cautioned his players against lapses in discipline ahead of their All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary.
It will be the first meeting of the old rivals since the Cats had three players sent off in a league defeat back in March.


David Blanchfield, Mikey Carey and Jordan Molloy were all given their marching orders by referee Seán Stack on a day when Tipp also had Alan Tynan dismissed.
Lyng said: “I remember at the time, there was a lot of frustration there. I think that common-sense approach is important but I also think the responsibility is on the two teams as well. It’s not an easy job, refereeing, and I know what they’ve been asked to do.
“But I think since then, we’ve had to look at our own discipline — and you have to.
“You can point the finger at everybody else but it’s something we’ve looked at as well.”
Sunday’s showdown, which will be the first Championship clash of Tipp and Kilkenny since the Premier’s win in the 2019 All-Ireland final, will be refereed by James Owens.
Lyng continued: “At the same time, I do feel sorry for incidents where a collision is unavoidable.
“It’s just the pace of the game. I don’t think any players out there go out with the intent to hurt anybody.
“I just think sometimes that needs to be taken into account.
“It’s easy to say that from where I am but I think we’ll get a really good game. There are experienced officials there.
“They have a job to do and we respect how they go about it.
“We have to manage our discipline and make sure we come out on the right side of that.”
Kilkenny are planning without Harry Shine as the young forward is set for a long spell on the sidelines with a torn ACL.
Marty Murphy is also out with a hamstring issue.
But they are set to be boosted by the return of Eoin Cody from a leg injury. The Ballyhale Shamrocks ace missed his side’s last four games, including the Leinster final win over Galway.
Lyng confirmed: “Eoin is available for selection now again. He’s come through the last few weeks and he’s done very well. He’s worked hard.
“Even in the run-up to the Leinster final, he was pushing hard. He was just kind of a week off at that stage and we didn’t take the chance with him.
“Thankfully he’s come through.”
MONEY TALKS
Lyng also empathised with fans, who are facing a price increase for their team’s seventh Championship outing in 11 weeks.
The cost of tickets for All-Ireland semi-finals has gone up by €5 in each of the last two years, meaning a place in the stand this weekend will set adults back €60.
The 8,243 crowd that attended the opener against Galway at Nowlan Park was the largest that Kilkenny played in front of during the Leinster round-robin.
Lyng added: “Families probably have to pick and choose.
“A lot of people will wait and hope their team gets further in the competition, so I think it could be looked at. We want to get as many young people to these games as possible.”