Kilkenny GAA Thread

tibruit

A couple of Village`s posts will be up on the wall in the Galway dressing room in Tullamore this weekend I reckon.

The_Tank

I think the criticism of that Galway team/period in general terms is a bit unjustified. The 2017 team was a mature team at the time with an evolved base from the 2012-2015 teams that had our generational team in a real bind at the time. In 2017 they hammered the shite out of (physically and hurling wise) Wexford when we were scratching our heads at how to deal with a sweeper. They beat a very strong Tipp team in an epic semi final. Then dealt with the pressure of a final after a number of losses (something we will have to face eventually). Counter intuitively they then under performed in the 2018 final but could still have salvaged a draw after they finally woke up. They won the preceding semi by a point against a really strong Clare team. They had beaten Kilkenny after a replay in the Leinster final but it would be fair to argue that they should have dismissed that Kilkenny team much easier than they did. Maybe the grit that Kilkenny team showed, while clearly in transition (Padraig Walsh marking Johnny Glynn at FB, John Donnelly, Mossey etc making starts) was what we didn't see this week. But I would tend to consider the grit that Kilkenny showed those two days to be remarkable. After that period they then ran into another generational team in Limerick and similar to ourselves banged their heads a lot of times but were generally worn down in the end.

Their record in Leinster is poor since then but Leinster isn't the cake walk that everyone seams to think it and the margins between being squeezed out or losing with the last puck of a game are pretty small. Their performance on Sunday wasn't good but I think that's what should be focussed on - rather than a broader critique.

MfMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382676#Comment_123382676

Exactly. In the round-robin match in Salthill in 2018, Galway dismissed Kilkenny easily enough, but could only scrape a draw in the subsequent Leinster final. Things can change quickly enough. There was a 6/7 year spell post 2015 Leinster final when Galway lost no championship match by more than 4 points, not the sign of a team downing tools. Things have been tougher the past couple of seasons and last weekend was a bad low; however, it was Donohoe's first championship game back in charge and I have faith he will restore better fortunes to the team. Criticism applied to Galway last Saturday could just as validly be levelled at Cork, who really switched off after ht on Sunday, or even Tipp' who have done next to nothing since 2019.

BQQ

I think people have been very quick to dance on Galway’s grave

The match was tight enough in the first half save the very soft goal we got

KK started the second half well and opened a gap and the game kind of petered out

it’s not that long ago Galway won the league match against us just as easily

Cathal mannion would walk onto any team in Ireland and they have other top class players like Conor whelan - maybe not enough of them - but if we met again, I wouldn’t expect much between the teams and I think there’s definitely a kick left in them this year

Nickindublin

A good win at the weekend. IMO i dont think we could ask for more bar no injuries. Hard to know how good this team is as Galway were poor. Injuries will be a major factor for KK in this AI. To have any chance we need to have our main players fit and ready for closing stages of the AI. The team needs to go to Antrim and put in a good performance. Anything else and question marks will surface.

Regarding Munster v Leiinster its a completely different ball game. You really have to start the Munster Championship well. Losing your first game and your under pressure. You can get away with it in Leinster. If Leinster was as competitive as Munster it would have the same instensity.

Regarding crowds and people criticisng KK people they need to rem we have the smallest Population of any of the top teams. But saying that it needs to be better and the GAA need to get more people through the turnstiles. Kids for free should be the first step.

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123382550#Comment_123382550

Typical Galway, might get a reaction against a young, naive Offaly team. They failed to get out of Leinster last year and Antrim had them in all sorts of trouble before getting a man sent off. Enough about Galway from me now.

Sir Chaz

Looks like we might be missing Shane Murphy, Adrian Mullen, and David Blanchfield for an extended period. Hard to see Shane back this year and other 2 will possibly be under pressure to make later stages of Leinster round robin. TJs injury is a couple of weeks away as well from what I've heard.
You'd imagine Stephen Donnelly will get a start Sunday and possibly Tommy Walsh also with rest of team unchanged.

Problem is it leaves us very light on the bench defensively with only Padraic Moylan and Eoin Lyng remaining as options from the last matchday panel, neither of whom have any championship experience. We're another defensive injury away from a bit of a crisis.

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123385467#Comment_123385467

How bad are Adrian Mullen and David Blanchfield is it 2 ankle injuries ?, realistically we are ok until the Leinster final on the 8th of June. Hopefully the 2 lads will be back for that. Pity for Shane Murphy

jamesbond2022

Looked to me blanchfield was a muscle injury quad or groin maybe

Krazy gang

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123385730#Comment_123385730

What's mullens injury?

jamesbond2022

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123385746#Comment_123385746

I don’t actually know from the stand it looked like he rolled an ankle or something could have been to do with the pitch

Before blanchfield came off he went down on one knee and was pointing towards groin quad or hamstring area but it could have been his ankle

Neewollah

Both Mullen and Blanchfield are ankle injuries

kilkenny123456

Did Shane Murphy do his ACL or what is it does anyone know?

jimmythesulk

Sad to see the behaviour of one of our supporters at last Saturday's game towards a lady from Galway.

Comerman

Poor show alright.

Box to box

Nice to get 2 points on the board and get up and going but galway were well below par. The soft goal galway conceded gave us a platform and It was tit for tat for most of the first half but we got 2 important points just before half time. I was really disappointed with galways second half but not overly shocked. I was looking at movents and puckouts in the second half and there was no comparison. Even during the league galway bullied kk but that aggression wasn't there at all. Scruff still does some silly things like giving the ball to a player not ready for it or was already under pressure with a couple of opponents around a player. Cheap score or two was given away by him doing this. It's hard to read a huge amount into this match. Kk hurled well at times but these games are all about getting back to croke Park. The few negatives are the injuries and 3 lads going away on crutches. Murphys one looked like the dreaded c which is really unfortunate,he has worked so hard and looked set to nail down that number 4 spot. Mullen has went off early in the 3 matches he played this year. He has missed alot of time over the years with injury. Darren was kinda the same he couldn't get a clear run. Cody took his goal well to be fair but the criticism I'd have is he doesn't work hard enough. He needs to do much more without the ball. Billy ryan gets a lot of criticism and is first off most of the time like against clare after getting 1-2 but he tries fierce hard and has continued his good form last year. Stephen donnelly is a big plus and someone most of us were hoping he could stay injury free and get a run. Bags of potential and can win his own ball. He will surely start this weekend. Mackassey done very well for his first day out. He is a excellent long range free taker. It will be intresting to see how he goes during the year but hopefully everyone gets behind him and not wait for him to have a quite game. He's there on merit.galway have a huge match against offally who will bring a big support. I'd expect a reaction from galway though. For all the talk about transition I think only 1 galway player who made his debut. He will probably start daithi and David Burke and conor cooney and Burke in goals. You would love to know where are all the young lads going?

Antrim seem to have gone backwards under Davie. He probably won't mind too much once he's still getting the big money. Corrigan Park is a tough spot but anything other than a kk win would be a big shock. Tommy will go 4 for Shane Murphy,Stephen donnelly for Mullen and a few added to the subs bench probably Gearoid Dunne. What's the story with Owen wall? Davey could set up with 3 sweepers and have all sorts of plans so just get up and get 2 points and get home without any injuries.kk played here 2 years ago so they will go up Saturday and get a puck around Saturday evening so being up there before will stand to them. The couple of injuries will test the squad over the next few weeks but kk now need donnelly,Billy ryan,cody,Kenny to lead this attack and become leaders. Its a good opportunity for them to step up.

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123387022#Comment_123387022

I would reckon at this stage Billy Ryan has become one of our most important forwards, has had a great league and works tirelessly and he has a bit of class going forward, he is the only forward we have that can cut through a backline with sheer pace, a vital player now.

Conversations 3

Hopefully Stephan Donnelly grabs this opportunity with both hands.

neverbet

No surprises there, I hear the injuries might not be as bad as feared, if true that would really help squad depth and competition for places going forward. All the focus now is on Antrim and nothing ever soft up there. Should be another brilliant weekend of hurling in both provinces. Can't understand those that don't appreciate it for what it is. Minors looked really good last saturday but wexford never competed. Galway a much stiffer test and hopefully know more about them after that one.

Rebelside

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123386847#Comment_123386847

what’s all that about?

Rega

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388256#Comment_123388256

https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/gaa/1786157/galway-fan-calls-out-selfish-and-aggressive-kilkenny-hurling-supporter.html