Kilkenny Club County Championship

hurler123

Who do we think will win this weekends games?Lots of miles on the clock for alot of players this year.These are the quarter final pairings:

Graigue Ballycallan V James Stephens

O'Loughlins V Carrickshock

Ballyhale V Comer

Muckalee V Dicksboro

Kkid

Hurler123, original I know but I’m going for the 4 favourites.

Ballyhale,
Village
Muckalee
Loughlins

Only one i'd worry about will be my own club OLG, think we should have too much for Shocks but you never know... looking forward to a great weekend of hurling though. 4 Games is a great way to spend the 2 days.

MfMan

Kkid wrote: »

Hurler123, original I know but I’m going for the 4 favourites.

Ballyhale,
Village
Muckalee
Loughlins

Only one i'd worry about will be my own club OLG, think we should have too much for Shocks but you never know... looking forward to a great weekend of hurling though. 4 Games is a great way to spend the 2 days.

Where are Muckalee from? Any county players? Are they 'traditional'?

Kkid

Muckalee is actually an area of St Martins Club. The club is made up from Muckalee, Coon and Ballyfoyle. It's an area between Kilkenny City and Castlecomer across to the Carlow Border. It’s a big area but the land shocking up that direction, it’s the most hilly part of Kilkenny really. They're a former All Ireland Winning club, won it in 1984, and have been coming good again with some good young players.

They had a few lads playing county, most noticeably Eamonn Morrissey & John Mulhall but also have players like Thomas Breen (Current Panelist), Johnny Dooley (late 90's) and Niall Moloney (late 90's too). They'd be a decent club now with a strong enough group but lacking a forward or two to really challenge.

The old man is from Muckalee so I grew up shouting for them after my own team.

MfMan

Kkid wrote: »

Muckalee is actually an area of St Martins Club. The club is made up from Muckalee, Coon and Ballyfoyle. It's an area between Kilkenny City and Castlecomer across to the Carlow Border. It’s a big area but the land shocking up that direction, it’s the most hilly part of Kilkenny really. They're a former All Ireland Winning club, won it in 1984, and have been coming good again with some good young players.

They had a few lads playing county, most noticeably Eamonn Morrissey & John Mulhall but also have players like Thomas Breen (Current Panelist), Johnny Dooley (late 90's) and Niall Moloney (late 90's too). They'd be a decent club now with a strong enough group but lacking a forward or two to really challenge.

The old man is from Muckalee so I grew up shouting for them after my own team.

So in other words St. Martin's is the correct club title? They're not divisional are they?

I thought all land in KK was good.

hurler123

MfMan wrote: »

So in other words St. Martin's is the correct club title? They're not divisional are they?

I thought all land in KK was good.

No theres no divisional teams in Kilkenny,ridiculously small amount of clubs in county actually.

Cshock-O'Loughlins will be a cracker, whoever comes out of that will have serious win under belt heading into semi's.

Ballyhale-Comer will be tough also but you imagine Fennelly's,Shefflin nd co will have enough to see them off.

Kkid

Yeah St Martins is the Club title. There used to be 2 teams and Muckalee/Ballyfole Rangers (Muckalee for short) were joined by Coon to become St Martins. It's not a divisional clubs or anything no, we have none of those in Kilkenny Hurling.

I thought all land in KK was good.

MfMan, its not bad land just very hilly so the pitches aren't the best up there. Always very heavy.

hurler123 Quote:
Cshock-O'Loughlins will be a cracker, whoever comes out of that will have serious win under belt heading into semi's.

Ballyhale-Comer will be tough also but you imagine Fennelly's,Shefflin nd co will have enough

Yeah I think the winner of that will fancy themselves against any team in the semi's cause no matter what they will have earned it.

TJ will be a big loss but I reckon their cuteness will just see them through.

hurler123

How TJ chased after the Galways defenders wit aa broken knee cap dat time was incredible determination in hindsight

Danesfort-Dunamaggin....who will avoid d drop?

Kkid

Yeah when you look at it now to chase and hassle with that kinda injury is incredible. That's commitment.

I fancy Danesfort to stay up, purely based on how poor Dunamaggin are. Phelan at midfield the last day out and then swapping Phelan with Hickey? Crazy decisions from a club missing hurlers. If Ken moore can be kept quiet it could be a handy one for Danesfort.

ft9

hurler123 wrote: »

Who do we think will win this weekends games?Lots of miles on the clock for alot of players this year.These are the quarter final pairings:

Graigue Ballycallan V James Stephens

O'Loughlins V Carrickshock

Ballyhale V Comer

Muckalee V Dicksboro

James Stephens

O'Loughlins

Ballyhale

Muckalee

I fancy O'Loughlins to win it out, Danesfort to avoid relegation beating Dunnamaggin and Clara to win the Intermediate. You heard it all here first folks.

adrian522

ft9 wrote: »

James Stephens

O'Loughlins

Ballyhale

Muckalee

I fancy O'Loughlins to win it out, Danesfort to avoid relegation beating Dunnamaggin and Clara to win the Intermediate. You heard it all here first folks.

Village/Carrickshock/Shamrocks/Boro

Realt Dearg Sec

adrian522 wrote: »

Village/Carrickshock/Shamrocks/Boro

Bit of optimism with that last prediction perhaps?

adrian522

Indeed

Badabing

How do Tullaroan do in the KK championship? with Tommy in the team you would think they do well. Has he won a club title?

ft9

Badabing wrote: »

How do Tullaroan do in the KK championship? with Tommy in the team you would think they do well. Has he won a club title?

No he hasn't won a club title at senior level.

Tullaroan escaped the relegation battle by score difference this year, beating Danesfort who beat Dunnamaggin, who beat Tullaroan. So very little in it.

Realt Dearg Sec

Badabing wrote: »

How do Tullaroan do in the KK championship? with Tommy in the team you would think they do well. Has he won a club title?

Every year they are expected to be relegated, and that is with plenty of cause. But every year, one way or another, they cling on to senior status. I think they are seriously hardened for the kind of horrible, grim battle that a relegation playoff can be at this stage. Nobody has their experience of that particular fight. And of course, they have Tommy. But one player does not a great team make, and they rely extremely heavily on him, moving him around the field a lot.

hurler123

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Every year they are expected to be relegated, and that is with plenty of cause. But every year, one way or another, they cling on to senior status. I think they are seriously hardened for the kind of horrible, grim battle that a relegation playoff can be at this stage. Nobody has their experience of that particular fight. And of course, they have Tommy. But one player does not a great team make, and they rely extremely heavily on him, moving him around the field a lot.

It's unreal that there goal every year is to get maybe two wins nd avoid a few trimmings.They have nothing coming up either.Very good point that they're battle hardened for the struggle every year,thats der greatest strenght probally.

phkk

HT Dicksboro 1-8 St Martins 0-9
Dicksboro won something like 3-14 to 0-16.

phkk

Ht Ballyhale 3-7 Erins Own 0-8
3goals in about 2mins has put Shamrocks in driving seat after a great start by 'Comer

phkk

FT Ballyhale 3-16 Erins Own 1-16

ft9

adrian522 wrote: »

Village/Carrickshock/Shamrocks/Boro

Great call there on the Boro. I certainly, like many others, did not see that coming.

Deathwish4

Good win for the Boro today against an extremely lethargic Muckalee who just never got going. Aside from John Mulhall they struggled all over the pitch.

Ballyhale showed flashes of top class form in the first half against Comer, effectively ending the match is a 5 minute 3 goal spell. Comer fought really hard in the second half to close to within 3 at one stage but Shamrocks were always tipping over the odd point to ease home comfortably enough.

As for tomorrow the Village should see off Ballycallan and i'd fancy Carrickshock to beat O'Loughlins with the powers doing the damage.

hurler123

Boro have some young team of hurlers who have no fear of any team,used to winning at underage,it stands t dem after today.They will take any team in the semi I reckon aswell right up until d final whistle

randd1

Ballyhale, The Village, the Boro and the Gaels in the semi's. Draw to be made tomorrow evening.

At the moment I'd have Ballyhale as favourites from a form point of view, but I have a sneaking suspicion for the Village to win it, they look like they're gearing up for a real shot at the title like last year.

O'Loughlin's are the likeliest of the other two to grab the glory, but I can't see them doing it if the draw means they end up having to beat both the Village and Ballyhale.

Dicksboro I think will give it a real shot but whoever they get in the SF should beat them. Great year from them all the same.

hurler123

Very hard to call the winners of the games next week whatever the pairings may be. The ground is cutting up very bad atm,making conditions way harder.

Eddie Brennan gave an exhibition yday at the Village game,he definitely looked like he has another few years left intercounty if he wanted to!

Who played well for O'Loughlins yesterday? Ballyhale looked like they had another few gears in them on saturday.....

randd1

hurler123 wrote: »

Who played well for O'Loughlins yesterday?

The Kearns, Bergin, Kelly and Gorta were on top form (Gorta got 4/5 points from play).

Brian Hogan was purely awesome, unbelievable.

Tombo2001

Kkid wrote: »

Muckalee is actually an area of St Martins Club. The club is made up from Muckalee, Coon and Ballyfoyle. It's an area between Kilkenny City and Castlecomer across to the Carlow Border. It’s a big area but the land shocking up that direction, it’s the most hilly part of Kilkenny really. They're a former All Ireland Winning club, won it in 1984, and have been coming good again with some good young players.

.

"one man's trash is another mans treasure".

As a cyclist, this would be one of my favourite parts of Kilkenny. Great scenery, lovely part of the county.

I thought it was a football area though.

cat in the sack

we are in for a finish for the kilkenny championship with any of the 4 teams can win it even Dicksbro its 1993 since they won it
got to the leinster club final that year and lost to a powerfull ST,Rynaghs team from offaly in the final.

tj reid is a big lost to Ballyhale its hard to call it have to wait for the draw. but i'd go for Ballyhale or the village, wouldn't write off OLG either

dastardly00

what was the Village's performance against Ballycallan like?

Also, anybody know when was the last time the 3 city town teams all reached the county semi-finals??

phkk

dastardly00 wrote: »

what was the Village's performance against Ballycallan like?

Also, anybody know when was the last time the 3 city town teams all reached the county semi-finals??

Village struggled to get a foothold in the first half, Ballycallan were on top in most departments with Eddie Brennan very much to the fore. They got a soft second goal on the stroke of ht which put them ahead by 1pt after hurling well within themselves.
However in the second half, they began to hurl to their potential with Larkin pulling the strings. The goal he scored showed the upper body strength of the man when he literally shrugged off two tackles and buried it. I would say Village can only but improve, Jackie was quiet enough and only got into it in last few minutes. Ominous signs for the rest. Must mention 16 year old corner forward who scored two goals, the first goal brilliantly taken with a first time pull from 14 yards which gave goalie no chance. I was with a neutral from Co Waterford who was in awe of that goal!

Headed to Ballyhale for other match too. Carrickshock were missing one or two forwards to really push on, Rice was huge loss. Richie Power was very poor, didn't show any leadership at all in comparison to Martin Comerford, who when the need was greatest, delivered in style. John Dalton gave an exhibition, Brian Hogan, Mark Kelly, Gorta all excellent too.

Wide open in my opinion. You would imagine Shamrocks should win it but I think their subs are poor enough. The Village and O'Loughlins have strength in depth and I think the winners will come from one of those two. Great year for Dicksboro to get this far and they won't be worried by any of the semi finalists they meet. The draw tonight should be interesting..........

ft9

SHC semi final draws for weekend.

James Stephens v Dicksboro

Ballyhale Shamrocks v O'Loughlins Gaels

I'll go for a Village v O'Loughlins final.

Toblerone1978

randd1 wrote: »

Brian Hogan was purely awesome, unbelievable.

I wouldn't say he was that good. Gorta was nearly the MOTM, although he did go quite for about 10/15 mins in the second half, John Tennyson had the measure of him for a while. Still he came out on top. OLG forwards second-half performance need to improve.

Hard to know what to make of the 'Shock - they have some very good non County players, I thought they would be making more of an impact at senior grade.

OLG vs Ballyhale will be a cracking games this wkd, looking forward to them. I expect the Village to beat Dicksboro with ease.

Quality of hurling is very good for this time of year although the mild weather helps!

cat in the sack

Village and Ballyhale final just about, i think King Henry will just about get Ballyhale over the line

hurler123

It's nearly impossible to call the Shamrocks game as both teams are so well balanced.Hogan cud dominate Shefflins influence on the game,please god the ref will be strong and stand up to Shefflins constant badgering of all decsions.

Will the KK champions make a push on All-Ireland this year?IMO all county players looking a little jaded,huge year starting to take its toll and heavy ground not being kind to weary legs.

dastardly00

hurler123 wrote: »

It's nearly impossible to call the Shamrocks game as both teams are so well balanced.Hogan cud dominate Shefflins influence on the game,please god the ref will be strong and stand up to Shefflins constant badgering of all decsions.

Will the KK champions make a push on All-Ireland this year?IMO all county players looking a little jaded,huge year starting to take its toll and heavy ground not being kind to weary legs.

From a county team perspective, you wouldn't mind if the KK champions get knocked out in Leinster early on, so that everyone has a rest.

hurler123

I was thinking the exact same Dastardly,im sure the players wouldnt wish such an outcome but I dont think they would argue against having a well due rest.The way its shaping up some of the county players could b looking at only getting a months rest even if they made the Leinster final on Decmeber 2nd for example

cat in the sack

leinster wouldn't be to hard win at the moment for the kilkenny winners, i know Oulart the-ballagh beat the village last year they only had
a few days rest plus Jackie T wasn't playing.

the winners last year offalys Coolderry are gone with K/K winning offaly don't know much about them it was their first title but like most
offaly teams down the years they are the ones to watch, i think Oulart have missed the boat and are gone back abit
Crokes are new Dublin winners so who ever comes out of kilkenny should take the title.

with powerhouses like portumna and Birr gone from the scene the club all ireland is wide open, Thurles sarsfields could be darkhorses
they have a strong side with many county players on board.

Dan Chipowski

Two really interesting semi finals.

The Boro are free rolling somewhat having exceeded expectations. They are young and fast, particularly in the forward unit and they'll need to strike for a few goals if they are to dethrone The Village, who haven't really been firing this year but still find themselves in another county semi final.

Other game could be a cracker. Shamrocks looked good against Comer in spells, Henry looked sharper and faster than he has in a while, the same comments could be applied to Cha. O'Loughlins will no doubt try to make it a tight, scrappy affair. A lot depends on how the Shamrocks forwards stand up to the physical task as their defence isn't good enough to keep O'Loughlins too quiet on the scoring front, particularly with Martin Comerford in excellent form.

I'd give very narrow verdicts to The Village and Shamrocks.

phkk

FT Shamrocks 1-17 O Loughlins 2-10

dastardly00

James Stephens 0-16 Dicksboro 1-15 (FT)

halfforward

O Loughlins were very poor but the Shamrocks hurled well and the score really flattered O Loughlins.
The Village were awful too. Larkin couldnt have done anymore but with no help from anyone they struggled. The Boro could/should have won by more. Very impressed with some of their young lads. They'll prob get a licking in the final but will be contenders over the next few years if they all stick around.

westsidestory

dastardly00 wrote: »

James Stephens 0-16 Dicksboro 1-15 (FT)

Anyone know what the odds on this would have been ??

dzer2

halfforward wrote: »

O Loughlins were very poor but the Shamrocks hurled well and the score really flattered O Loughlins.
The Village were awful too. Larkin couldnt have done anymore but with no help from anyone they struggled. The Boro could/should have won by more. Very impressed with some of their young lads. They'll prob get a licking in the final but will be contenders over the next few years if they all stick around.

Think thats tough This is a lot of the boro team that won a minor back on the noughties

halfforward

Just thinking the occasion of first county final against the experience of the shamrocks might over awe them, I hope not. Def look a decent team. What age are the Fagans?

dastardly00

dastardly00 wrote: »

James Stephens 0-16 Dicksboro 1-15 (FT)

Huge shock. Who is in the intermediate and junior finals?
Rumours Leinster Rugby is courting Walter Walsh?

Jimmy Iovine

halfforward wrote: »

What age are the Fagans?

23, I think.

They are a crazy young team overall. At least 10 of the starting 15 from the quarter final were within a year or two of me in school, and I'm only 22.

They'll be around for another good few years yet.

hurler123

Boro team are full of young lads who never experienced defeat really underage. They don't have the baggage a lot of the older teams have when it comes to more "traditional" teams in the championship,also they have a star in cillian Buckley to keep them going.

Larkin is incredible,I haven't seen him play a bad game for the village in about five years.his determination and wrist work are second to none

cat in the sack

Shamrocks won well Cha is coming back to the form he had a few years ago, the Village were poor with Jackie looked out of gas alot
of hurling done, fair play to dicksbro but the Shamrocks should win the final with a bit to spare

Realt Dearg Sec

Does anyone happen to know if this final will be televised? The TG4 website just doesn't have any info on it.

ellinguistico

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Does anyone happen to know if this final will be televised? The TG4 website just doesn't have any info on it.

Kilkenny one is always shown, mightn't be live but will be shown.

Realt Dearg Sec

ellinguistico wrote: »

Kilkenny one is always shown, mightn't be live but will be shown.

I hope so. Just that with the provincial match ups under way now, they might like some of the other fixtures better. I'd actually prefer deferred coverage, the reason I can't attend, and the reason I asked about it being on tv, is that I have a match at that time myself but I'd love to be able to watch.

I think the ease with which the Boro are being written off, as they were in the previous two rounds, will continue to stand to them. Obviously it's hard to look past the quality of Ballyhale, but the Boro have no lack of hunger, no lack of youth, and no fear at all of anyone, due to their underage success. I don't think it'll be as one-sided as people think. But if Shefflin continues to lead as he has done for club and county all year, it would be amazing if he couldn't pull his team over the line. My heart says Boro, but if I was sitting in front of a bookmaker, I'd reluctantly have to put my money on green and white. But not to beat the handicap.