Kilkenny GAA Thread

conor05

Strange comment, looking at what’s on the beach who would you have started in the number 10 and 12 spots instead of Mullen & Mackessy presuming TJ is injured?

Mackessy was very good v Limerick albeit in the league at 12 and Mullen is a proven 10 at this level.

Blanchfield instead of Reid at 6 probably needs to happen as we get deeper into the championship.

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123368063#Comment_123368063

Blanchfield is superior to the 3 half backs picked, as a package he is individually better than all 3. When he is right half back he dominates that side in the air and is a threat going forward and has great recovery. Reid and Deegan are not the most mobile. But then again i have not seen what went down in training the last month.

As for Mullen i don't think he had much interest in playing in the league this year and wanted to get himself in a good place for championship by all accounts

me89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123368109#Comment_123368109

Two poor performances and a stupid red card anything to do with it i wonder?

Sir Chaz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123368136#Comment_123368136

Yeah I think that's a fair point. Big surprise he isn't playing but he wasn't playing well in league and that petulance against Tipp was ridiculous. Having said that, Carey didn't cover himself in glory that day either

Might be a wake up call for him.

TJ is a big miss, presume Cody on the frees. Great to see Mullen back. Hopefully he's fully fit as if we are to have any hopes of winning an All Ireland we will need him at his best.

Conversations 3

Good to see Shane Murphy starting, hopefully he goes well.

Also hope Cody roams around a bit and swaps around with Billy Ryan to give them both a bit of open space.

conor05

It did feel a bit like Blanchfield was doing his own thing in a few games in the league, shooting a lot of shots wide that were not on, then the crazy red card along with a dip in performances .

He’s a very good hurler and tough as nails so we need a fully tuned in David when he is called upon.

On another note, Nickie Quaid back in goals for Limerick v Tipp only 5 months after doing his cruciate ACL!!

Senditinlow

His book was a cringe read bar the first couple of chapters bout his school days.

blackcard

Wouldn't be confident with TJ missing along with Blanchfield although I expect the latter to come on at some stage. Dean Mason as sub goalkeeper unexpected

Sir Chaz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369013#Comment_123369013

Tallis must be injured?

Krazy gang

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123368136#Comment_123368136

That's what some are saying yeah. I'm sure he'll be back in the team soon enough. No need for people to overreact.

Box to box

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369091#Comment_123369091

Tallis picked up a serious enough foot injury on the training camp. There was never going to be any big shocks because derek has always played it safe.David blanchfield is the only surprise. He does have a finger injury but it looks like he was dropped. Unfortunately tj will miss alot of the round robin games. Kk are dependent on him which isn't great.

There will be a few changes to the Galway team im told Kk have never beaten Galway in the round robin.cathal Mannion will have to be marked

Comerman

Minor team for Sunday

kilkenny34

BBig day for Cody on the frees?Will Murphy or Reid take longer range frees.Massively important in the modern game,TJ a master at them,Byrnes and Dalton very accurate too.

kilkenny123456

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370182#Comment_123370182

That looks a very strong team and panel alright. We’ll be hard beat this year id say

neverbet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370042#Comment_123370042

Most counties going with the tried and tested this weekend. Pity the weather has turned to the bad. Kilkenny need the win today as I really like the look of the Wexford team picked for Antrim and we don't want to be going there in the final game looking for the win. We have a decent looking bench and I hope management aren't slow to use it. Galway have their strongest team out so should only be a point or two in it either way. Cahal Mannion one of the best around and if we limit him we limit Galway. No fan of Sean Stack up to the league final where I thought he did a fine job.Fingers crossed we get the job done.

me89

Any danger of this being called off? A lot of rain has fallen in the last 24 hours

Nickindublin

I felt before th eteam news we were favs to win. Not big favs but i fancied our chances. Now i feel its a toss up and Galway will really fancy their chances. I think whoever adapts best to the conditions will win. Placed balls could be the deciding factor.

Marrooned

It seems to be be clearing now and is to improve as the day goes on,but as you said an awful lot of rain has fallen. Conditions might be tough but we’ll probably be dry.

Deskjockey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370375#Comment_123370375

It's some change from last year in that every single starter this year is "up to the age", last year every single match had 7 or 8 lads giving away a year.

usualstripes

Big day today for thr seniors. A win would more or less see them through to a leinster final, having Antrim away, dublin and offaly at home. That's not trying to be disrespectful to those 3 but we don't want to be in a position of having to get 2 points in Wexford Park.

Im expecting a big game from mullen and Cody. A few points to prove from them. Great to see Shane Murphy get the nod.

Settled looking team. Would expect blanchfield, hogan and shine to get some time in the game. Similar attitude to the Limerick match and I would expect the win. Molloy and Kenny in the middle will be integral to that.

Conversations 3

I think they had a pitch inspection yesterday, surely they would have another this morning.

Ceist_Beag

It has rained steady for the past 24 hours but it's only soft rain. No offense to the ground staff but it would be very embarrassing if it failed a pitch inspection over that amount of rain. I'm sure it won't though.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

blanchfield has never fulfilled his potential imo, ld say management are losing patience. Remain to convinced about mackessy at this level.anyway we will know more by this evening .

Nickindublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370800#Comment_123370800

I think there are a lot of players associated with the Senior Team with a lot to prove IMO. Also the Management team has a lot to prove. Big year for certain players and Derek and his team. A win and a good performace for 70+ minutes could be the springboard for a good championship. The opposite and we could be in for a short season.

The result will be interesting reading on here and what posters appear.

Best of luck to all KK teams this weekend.

Sir Chaz

Bit surprising to see Kenny back in midfield as he seemed to thrive at 11, he seems an ideal candidate for that position given he's lively, intelligent, and can score freely.

Richie Reid is probably still our best option at 6, until we get someone else coming through. Hugely important that he is protected by midfield though, as in a 1 on 1 on a pacy and strong 11, you'd have concerns.
TJ a big loss but we need to show we can move on and win without him so in that respect today is extremely important, and in the context of the group and our overall championship aspirations, nothing but a win will suffice. Best of luck to all, I think we'll win well.

Best of luck to Minors as well, very strong team picked and like the seniors, anything but a win tomorrow would be a worry. 15 starters and 23 of match day panel up to the age which is a big boost, assuming we are good enough.

Conversations 3

Game on!!

Mad about baa baas

Im delighted to see Murphy corner back. I also think molloy.and kenny are our best midfield pairing and we cant afford kenny at 11 as good as he is there..I was told earlier that mackessy will be on long range frees..

My biggest concern is he has 3 big men on the half forward line and i hope Murphy doesn't close.his eyes and drive all.the puck outs as far as he can. It will be very interesting to see how mullen goes with so little hurling done this year. Anyway im hopeful of our first win against galway in the round robin..

The minor panel does indeed look very strong and should go a long way in the competition..

Lastly hopefully the usual suspects aren't on here gloating if we dont go as well as hoped

conor05

I’ve a feeling it could be a Wexford v Kilkenny Leinster final this year myself but you definitely don’t want to be going down to Wexford Park needing a win on the last day, they have huge support and very hard to beat there in championship.

Wexford have very good young hurlers on that team.

Really need a big game from Adrian Mullen in the absence of TJ today.

Nickindublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123371113#Comment_123371113

Leinster may not be as strong as Munster on paper but it is very competitive. If your not on your game you can be turned over. Wexford will always play like its the final against KK so you need to be qualified by the time you go there.

As for the AI i feel the team that keeps its main players fit and have 5 options that can make a differnece off the bench will win it. The modern games is so fast and physical you need that bench.

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123371113#Comment_123371113

Yeah i agree, that is a poor Galway team. Fahy in goal, TJ Brennan, Monaghan, Fleming, Concannon are average at best, Burke full back is slow. Keep the 2 Mannion's, Whelan and Lee from dominating and Kilkenny win well.