Kilkenny GAA Thread

conor05

You’d imagine Mackessy will be on the frees both short and long but Butler is going to be a big loss, especially against a Bennettsbridge team who seems to be hitting form at the right time.

I will still go for a OLG v Thomastown final.

KK36

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122698182#Comment_122698182

It doesn't matter if he never got a yellow card previously or if he got one every day.

Neewollah

Mark Bergin won his appeal last night

Marrooned

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122699997#Comment_122699997

somebody is telling lies?

dodgysub

Bennettsbridge have an incredible chance to win with Mikey Butler and Mark Bergin absent. 2 experienced leaders gone especially Bergin in the forwards. OLG still favourites but their absence will have to have an effect. If David Blanchfield can get the better of Mackassey, who is going to get the scores for OLG? Game on if that happens.

conor05

https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/gaa/1625994/kilkenny-club-hurler-fionan-mackessy-secures-another-hurling-accolade.html

I’d say Derek Lyng will be keeping a close eye on how the battle between Blanchfield and Mackessy goes on Sunday.

Two big hardy lads.

KK36

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122702467#Comment_122702467

Blanchfield is developing into an awesome hurler. His leadership against Tullaroan was brilliant

tbiggertycome

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122702467#Comment_122702467

The one thing thats notable about Mackessy is actually his in ability to mix it for such a big man. If you watch any of their matches this year it's only when he can get free of his man and/or is passed the ball when free that he seems to be able to secure possession. He's actually poor under high ball, surprisingly and seems to have very little ability to throw his weight around or use it effectively in a ruck. He's a very accurate shooter and is fast too but mixing it with physicality is not a strength of his game that I have seen so far. A tight physical marker can keep him relatively quite but his accuracy allows him get scores when he receives the ball in any bit of space inside the opposition half.

I'm not sure da Bridge will use Blanchfield on Mackessy as he has been playing a more holding CB or sweeper role in what I've seen from them this year and doing so brilliantly by the way. Mackessy will be moving around from sideline to sideline and I think da Bridge will appoint someone else to man mark him with Blanchfield covering across if he gets free.

I see Kevin Blanchfield having the potential to have a huge day, the OLG midfield is far from stellar and Boro really got on top in that area. A player of Kevin Blanchfields ability and current form, could and should cause the OLG midfield and defence all kinds of trouble. Jason Cleere has been having a great year and he'll give Lawlor a different challenge and with the physical nature of the Bridge forwards. I can see them getting a decent return out of the OLG backs but that's always easier said than done. If the Bridge can get a few goal chances, I see them winning it. If OLG's shut down the Bridge forwards like they did the Boro forwards (for goal chances) they'll march on again.

Village87

Yeah i agree, the bridge have a great chance but a bit like Tullaroan and Boro they usually find it hard to get over the line. Mullinavat and Thomastown is similarly close, very hard game to call. 2 semi finals that are hard to call with surprisingly big favourites. It has been an excellent championship to date, and i expect Sunday to continue that trend

jamesbond2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122704201#Comment_122704201

I think mackessy is used to playing in midfield or half back any time I’ve seen him he’s always coming onto the ball from deep with his back to his own goal rather than the oppositions

I know he’s doing well this year but I don’t think the half forward line suits him

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122705012#Comment_122705012

Not great when the highlight senior QF fixture in Kilkenny and the best 2 forwards on show are a Kerry man and a Dub

jamesbond2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122705539#Comment_122705539

It most certainly isn’t im still baffled that with the 3 town teams with all there numbers and resources haven’t produced a top quality inter county forward for Kilkenny of late

Although olg have a few in around the panel and some Brillant backs no top forward since gortha or m Bergin were in there

Dickboro Still haven’t produced anyone that come close to c Buckley

And the village have produced cian Kenny whose more of a midfielder

neverbet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122705539#Comment_122705539

Even you might accept Luke Hogan and Harry Shine had a bigger impact than the ' Dub" who didn't unduly trouble Hugh Lawlor or the scoreboard.

conor05

He has won 5 x Joe McDonagh All stars in the number 7 jersey for Kerry, he is an out and out wing back.

I agree with the poster above, he hasn’t been very physical for OLG as a forward this year.

How would this KK half back line look in 2025

5. Mikey Carey

6. David Blanchfield

7. Fionan Mackessey (in a Kyle Hayes shooting from distance role, turning the opposition forward on the back foot the whole time)

I know the above would mean dropping Ritchie Reid off the team.

droppingball

I would love to see Jordan Molloy at 7, very impressed with him the last two years and he was decent midfield in league for Kilkenny last year but he might nail down 7 if he got a run there. I'd be happy with Blanch centre and Carey at 5.

Deskjockey

Has it been confirmed that Mackessey is finished hurling with the Kerry county team?

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122706919#Comment_122706919

We cant spend another year looking at Riche Reid, comes to the crunch matches and he is pushed aside.

awaywithyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122704201#Comment_122704201

Kerryman here.. would be familiar with Fionan and he is a huge man.. but he is also a very very nice fella… prob too nice… he never real used his physicality here in Kerry too much and believe it or not could actually be marked out of games if someone of a similar size was marking him.. i agree with the poster that said he is being played too far forward… he is the kind of player that does better coming from deep and taking the ball on the run… he would be very hard to stop once he gets into his stride.. so half back line would work well for him i think..

have to say im delighted to see things working out for him.. as he really is a very nice fella

awaywithyou

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122705539#Comment_122705539

shure look at Cork semi finals last weekend.. Sarsfields beat Midleton by a point.. Conor Lehane is Midletons dangerman and he was being manmarked by Bryan Murphy a former Kerry hurler… A Kerryman given the task of curbing Cork club hurlings most dangerous forward…

jamesbond2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122706928#Comment_122706928

That has to be the half back line next year with maybe Shane murphy if molloy is midfield

Legs is what we need in that area of the pitch

droppingball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122706928#Comment_122706928

Also think Cian Kenny is nailed on for one midfield spot, Blanchfield sits really deep for the Bridge, with him so deep you might need a Paddy Deegan or Mackessy sitting in as a deep lying midfielder. It needs a freshening up anyway.

Lots of excitement here in Thomastown and I'm sure Mullinavat is the same. Senior semi finals day can be the best day in the club calender hopefully weather is ok Sunday and we get two good games.

greenspurs

Camogie Semi Finals day tomorrow.

tbiggertycome

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707969#Comment_122707969

I'm not sure Cian Kenny is nailed on. He has a fierce habit of fading and fading very badly in games for both the Village and Kilkenny. While his first half performances are often stellar his second half performances have tended to be far from impressive.

droppingball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122708988#Comment_122708988

I would say that has been a problem for our whole team, not getting 70 minute performances. If you name two midfielders to start before Cian Kenny I think we will be in a right position, not saying he is Michael Fennelly but think he is a key cog for us.

lob it in

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122698176#Comment_122698176

I've heard since that the boro player has admitted he made the most of it and regretted it so you're comments are load of shite.

neverbet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709530#Comment_122709530

Agree, hurling is now 20 man game and often the better players need replacing having given their all. Cian Kenny a definite starter for me. With regards to Fionan Mackessy he is a fine hurler. I hope he remains with his native county as he is vital to them remaining competitive in McDonagh. DPlenty hurlers inter county standard in this county to be getting on with.

Realt Dearg Sec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709625#Comment_122709625

Well I've since heard that he didn't admit anything and your comments are a load of shite, so what do we do now?

Comerman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709651#Comment_122709651

Agreed fully, he's a fine hurler but not going to be Kilkenny's saviour and there is plenty in the county ahead of him.

Neewollah

Few bits to comment on.

Cian Kenny had a very good year for KK last year and definitely our nailed on midfielder. Very good year for the Village too despite their struggles. We just need to find the right partner for him

Mackessy has impressed this year with how easily he adapted to the KK scene. But Liam Mc intercounty is another level. I wouldn't be in favour of trying to take him away from Kerry who need all their best hurlers to continue to develop and there is no indication that he is open to leaving Kerry either.

On the seniors semis. 2 interesting games ahead. OLG likely to be down 2 important players but have strength on the bench. Interesting to see who comes on to start. Can Bennettsbridge perform at their best and give them a game. I fancy OLG to shade it in another tight game.

Thomastown v Mullinavat I think is going to be a great game. Thomastown being talked of highly and rightly so. Mullinavat an experienced and well seasoned team. Probably forgotten how good a lot of their players are. I still give Thomastown the edge as I've been impressed with them defensively which I think will help them shade it.

jamesbond2022

I would agree that mackessey is not a runner for kk I just don’t think lyng would approach him to get involved with Kilkenny even if he made it known he wanted to hurl for Kilkenny

He’s a very good player but I find it’s a bit odd that lads on here have parachuted him straight in a kk team on paper

I think it’s a bit of novelty for people as we don’t often have many transfers into clubs from other counties

I don’t think he has even mentioned he’s finished hurling for Kerry

Like if he was playing club hurling in Galway tipp cork or limerick I don’t think those teams would be looking for him either

But if he was playing his club hurling in Laois Westmeath kildare or maybe Dublin I could see them going all out to get him onboard

I think Kilkenny don’t have a tradition of outside managers and coaches being involved and I can’t remember who was the last player from another county to hurl for Kilkenny was