Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng acknowledged that his side haven't good enough in 2026 after their seven-point loss to Dublin confirmed their championship exit at the provincial stage for the first time in the round robin era.
The Cats' first loss in championship to Dublin since 2013, coming alongside Offaly's expected win over Kildare in Newbridge, saw them eliminated in late May, an outcome which had been touted as a possibility from the moment they were held to a draw by Offaly in Tullamore in Round 3.
The six-in-a-row Leinster champions needed a win to reach another provincial final but they were always held at arm's length by an in-form Dublin, with Donal Burke's second half penalty giving the hosts a cushion at a crucial stage. With no reports of a reprieve coming from St Conleth's Park, it gradually dawned on the travelling contingent that their race was run for this summer.
"We were second best and that's the reality of it," Lyng told RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"We did everything we could to get into the game. It just wasn't happening, it wasn't flowing.
"In fairness to Dublin, they were sharper on the breaks. They closed us off really in the second half and we had the wind. They ran the ball very well, which they're very good at doing.
"They obviously can play it long as well. I have no complaints. Our effort, as usual, from the players was outstanding.
"I can't ask for any more from them. It just didn't run for them and it probably hasn't this year, if we're being brutally honest."
It concluded a difficult year for Kilkenny, who were badly hit by the absence of All-Star full-back Huw Lawlor, as well as an injury to Adrian Mullen, who missed the vast bulk of the inter-county season.
They narrowly survived in Division 1A of the Allianz League thanks to a one-point win over Waterford and their seven-in-a-row tilt in Leinster begun with a double-digit defeat to Galway in Salthill - their second in as many months.
"It's been fractured, it's been up and down," said Lyng
"I have no doubt there's a lot of players in there with massive futures ahead of them. We've introduced a lot of younger players this year and that will stand to them. It's a hard day.
"We've obviously lost a few players at the start of the year, but I knew it was going to be a challenge. I knew it was going to be difficult. I believe, though, in what we have inside the dressing room, there's a special group in there.
Derek Lyng was dejected on a day Kilkenny hit a huge low by exiting the championship in late May.
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 24, 2026
"The reality is we haven't been good enough this year. Kilkenny will be back." pic.twitter.com/mDWap4RhZq
"No doubt, things will stand to them. They'll drive on and they'll be stronger for it again next year.
"But the reality of it is we haven't been good enough this year."
The defeat marks an end to Lyng's fourth year in the Kilkenny job, having taken on the daunting task of succeeding Brian Cody at the end of 2022.
He guided Kilkenny to three successive Leinster titles, reaching the All-Ireland final in 2023, where they were overwhelmed by Limerick in the second half.
"It's not a sacrifice for me. It's a sacrifice for my family. I've loved it. We've had a couple of very good years. We're very close to it. Like I said, I knew this year was going to be a challenge.
"But Kilkenny will be back. We'll win All-Irelands again. It's not going to be this year, unfortunately.
"But we have to move on now and that's it."
