Kilkenny GAA Thread

The Flying Donkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123942222#Comment_123942222

Darragh has shown up well at centre back for the Shamrocks, in particular marking John Donnelly and on Sunday. But club and county are two different ball games. The last time he was in with the county and hurled, he was sometimes outfielded for more ball than he should given his size. Even on Sunday towards the end of the match, Jordan Molloy caught a ball behind him.

Given Darragh is so-so in the air, I’ve often wondered whether he would be better in midfield and be that physical presence we are looking for since he’s great to carry ball, take a score and crash into rucks. Blanchfield, Carey and Molloy as a half back line with Cian Kenny and Darragh Corcoran might be a better balance to the team.

This could be all for naught as I don’t think Lyng took too kindly to being questioned by Darragh for dropping him after the Carlow match in 2024.

neverbet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123942277#Comment_123942277

Ref wasn't great yesterday and overall it was a depressing spectacle. The two goalies, Two Reids and Joey apart not much to get excited about. Mind you Jordan Molloy was best outfield for O'Loughlins. He was written off by at least one poster here after last years final so I wouldn't be getting carried away writing players off or anointing them as starters on the county team after a below standard county senior championship.

Village87

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123942375#Comment_123942375

Shamrocks improved for Darragh going 6, he has the powers that Richie Reid does not and should suit Kilkenny at 6. He is well ahead of any other options imo. The options are not great, going off yesterday can't be putting Deegan there, very poor again, and bullied in another county final

Krazy gang

Can't see kilcormac beating ballyhale if its a day like yesterday. A dry calm day would suit them more. Na fianna got away with it Saturday but they'll hardly be as bad again. They'll beat st martins who were lucky against rathnure who were the better team for a long tíme but gave 2 poor goals.

Ballyhale na fianna leinster final would be one to look forward to.

Takeyourpoints

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123942402#Comment_123942402

Jordan Molloy's running and energy was fantastic. His only fault sometimes is his end product, whether thats a pass or a shot (one shot during the second half was eerily reminiscent of the shot dropped into the keepers hand in the AI semi final). OLG forwards looked a bit lost but it was the intensity of the Ballyhale forwards that meant that the OLG backs were hitting balls down on top of their forwards with snow on them. If ever you wanted to show a young lad that the first line of defence is the full forward line, you'd show them some of Ballyhale's pressuring.

It's hard to know where OLG go from here, less than two years ago they were a whisker away from an all Ireland club championship but right now they seem like a team that can't handle the pressure.

Regarding the referee, I thought he did a decent job. The game flowed fairly well for the most part in tricky conditions and while the game boiled over at times he kept them mostly in check. One "foul" on Paddy Deegan aside I thought they did ok. I think another poster mentioned Peter Burke above, Burke, Everard and Beehan are three refs that control games well and overall I think the standard has gone up in the last few years.

Also well done to Barrow Rangers, I remember them losing the county final to John Lockes maybe 15 years ago and it's been a long road back for them since then. As their playing number increase, if they can stay up a few years we could see them challenging for intermediate.