Kilkenny GAA Thread Part 2 **MOD NOTE POST 1***

randd1 wrote: »

Tipp prising Wexford open in a way we simply can't given the way we play.

You'd have to wonder how our lads are being coached at the moment even in the basics compared to the Tipp front 8, they're so more creative it's impossible at this time of the year to see us beating them.

They do use their forwards in a way that we haven't being doing this year.
We have 7 weeks to the wexford match in Wexford Park and with a few rounds of league matches taking place along with the u21 game their won't be a massive amount of time together but it's probably no harm for the lads to get club action under way.
You would hope that the necessary hunger will be there v wexford and our full squad is available. Hopefully getting past them will move the whole thing on.

usualstripes wrote: »

They do use their forwards in a way that we haven't being doing this year.
We have 7 weeks to the wexford match in Wexford Park and with a few rounds of league matches taking place along with the u21 game their won't be a massive amount of time together but it's probably no harm for the lads to get club action under way.
You would hope that the necessary hunger will be there v wexford and our full squad is available. Hopefully getting past them will move the whole thing on.

How many under 21s are likely to start? If I had to guess id say two Jason Cleere and Liam Blanchfield with Riche Leahy and Pat Lyng making the bench.

The team id expect to see against Wexford would be as follows

E Murphy

Murphy Walsh O Shea
Joyce Cleere Buckley

Fogarty Deegan

Fennelly Reid Walsh

Blanchfield Hogan Aylward

Topcat32 wrote: »

How many under 21s are likely to start? If I had to guess id say two Jason Cleere and Liam Blanchfield with Riche Leahy and Pat Lyng making the bench.

The team id expect to see against Wexford would be as follows

E Murphy

Murphy Walsh O Shea
Joyce Cleere Buckley

Fogarty Deegan

Fennelly Reid Walsh

Blanchfield Hogan Aylward

I would see leahy very close to starting. He has the traits and just needs a few consistent games with the team. Blanchfield to me needs to trim up a little to gain an extra yard on defenders. Our ability to get into space from 10 to 15 will determine how far we go in the championship.

usualstripes wrote: »

I would see leahy very close to starting. He has the traits and just needs a few consistent games with the team. Blanchfield to me needs to trim up a little to gain an extra yard on defenders. Our ability to get into space from 10 to 15 will determine how far we go in the championship.

I think it will take a lot of gym work for Blanchfield over the next few years to build up his power and acceleration, when he gets running he is ok but is very slow over the first few yards, that being said if the team was picked today he would be on it.

Difference today was Wexford were not allowed to drag and pull the forwards as they did against KK. Also their touch was off, the second goal was some mistake by the corner back. Also they hit some awful bad wides that went over the last day.

Cornerback1 wrote: »

Sets up an fantastic battle on 10th June. Should be near a full house in Wexford that evening.

High sun, the smell of fresh cut grass..aaahhh.

At this stage I'd say it'll be packed

unrealtime wrote: »

Would not be inclined to overrate Tipp. They are beatable. Remember this is not a good Wexford team and is full of players that have done little over the years. If we cannot beat them in June we're gone.

I agree that we should not overrate Tipp. They were two points up with about 10 minutes to go. They committed three fouls in the lead up to the second goal. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if they get someone sent off in the Championship again.

Cornerback1 wrote: »

Sets up an fantastic battle on 10th June. Should be near a full house in Wexford that evening.

High sun, the smell of fresh cut grass..aaahhh.

Id say there'll be some atmosphere around that evening especially if it's nice..it'll be a huge game for us if we lose that and get into a qualifiers with say cork,dublin,waterford limerick it'd be very hard to see us having a good summer.
The only thing it's great to see wexford back up competing at the top table the only concern there a good bit ahead of others in terms of fitness and ball work but this was understandable.I just hope for their sake they won't be flat when the summer comes around like clare last year
I think it's going to be a great championship,clare have a very good management team with some class players and if they get their injured lads back they'll be a force.
Galway are going about their business quietly and they've got rid of a few players that I felt were holding them back
It's a huge year for our neighbours in waterford nothing only an ai appearance will probably do and mcgrath is probably under pressure to deliver
As for ourselves we won't really know till June 10th where we're at.The league had ups and downs but we had to try things after last September and padraig has done well at 3,cleere done ok at six but probably not ready yet,leahy lyng,blanchfield and deegan all had their moments
Pity we didn't unearth a dangerous inside forward but maybe with the hard ground he might have something up his sleeve

usualstripes wrote: »

Lyng had an impact but this was only in the walsh cup as he didn't play after going off v waterford. He will play some role this year but he has time on his side.
Deegan is solid and will improve with more exposure at this level. His involvement will depend on how mick fennelly goes.
Blanchfield will get game time but needs to improve his movement.
Leahy to me will make an impact this year and is probably our best option out of all of the above.
Along with these james maher and ger aylward will surely see game time.

There are 2 positions up for grabs as hogan, tj, Colin and walter will all start come championship.
So it's blanchfield, leahy, aylward, maher, lyng, martin and kevin kelly vying for those two positions unless cody springs a surprise and includes john walsh and luke scanlon on the championship panel.
Don't know if john power will be on the championship panel. We will see how the club matches go.

I know he has come back from a near career ending injury but I think it could take more time for james to reach the highs of last year but hopefully ger will be ready.
Cody will have to get the balance of the team right an hopefully a few u21s will put up their hand
My team ten weeks out
Murphy
Murphy,walsh,shea
Cleere,joyce,buckley
Fogarty,leahy
Tj,richie,walter
Ger,colin,blanchfield
I was talking to a bhale man at the wknd who told me mick fennelly is back running and good news for them cha and conor walsh are back along with adrian mullen they look serious force again

Rasputin11 wrote: »

Load of nonsense, before Bubbles red card last year, the last Tipp man put off in Championship was John O Brien in 2012. Not in any shape or form a dirty team.

Sorry lad but their tackling is high and reckless a lot of the time with follow through on most.

Topic has gone to pot. Any info on the u21 challenge v clare at the weekend?

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

^ good question, I think it's fair to say this is the most important u21 championship for Kilkenny in nearly twenty years, and how we fare will tell us a lot about the next three or four years for the seniors. Obviously a performance like last year and we are in serious trouble but looking at the league we are still two or three players short of a sustainably all Ireland contending senior team, and that's assuming the likes of leahy and blanchfield progress the way we're hoping they do. We still need at least two more backs and two more forwards to push on in the next year.

Would be more in our line to be finding out who had the potential to do that rather than starting into cribbing about tipp supposedly fouling. The echoes of the old "kk play over the edge" bull**** we used to have to listen to from opposing fans are deafening.

Couldn't agree more. It's crucial for our u21s to progress through the championship and to elevate the potential of the players we need at senior level.
They should be there or thereabouts having won minor three years ago. You would be hoping for some exciting displays from them.

What date is U21's? Where at?

brookville wrote: »

I agree
Haven't heard how the match went but as others have said it's going to be huge we really need a strong showing from this group it'd also be a boost heading down to Wexford park if we could beat dublin. On paper it looks a very strong team with some tasting senior experience at NHL and most are training with the seniors
Brennan is a good goalie and the likes of delaney and cleere probably man the centers with tommy walsh 2 x mullens,conor browne,michael coady,conor doheny and lalor all good hurlers
Scanlon and leahy hopefully mf
Plenty of good forwards like gaffney,pat lyng,kevin farrell,billy ryan,alan murphy,blanchfield,john walsh and sean morrissey

There was no U21 game at the weekend. They had a training session in Portroe, Tipperary instead. By the way Conor Browne will have no involvement in the U21 scene this year. Dropped himself from the squad at least two months ago if not longer.