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

KKCAT2018 wrote: »

I was at the game. Some very nice play from our guys. Always looking for the man in a better position.
Nice to see it.

No 15 o can't think of his name. Played well and worked very hard. James Maher was good in the first half. Alot of very nice passing going on. All in all I liked the style of play.

More of the same going forward and we'll give other teams something to think about.

I think bolger was 15 alan murphy was 13 and on the frees.bolger done some nice things.conor martin was good tonight hopefully he can back them up his there 2 or 3 years now but he might have something.
I was surprised to see ballyragget lads involved with a big match coming up.

Match report

http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/sport/289852/kilkenny-win-walsh-cup-clash-against-laois-was-no-contest.html

Good start from Kilkenny. Kilkenny should have a strong Walsh Cup and League. They are back training nearly 10 weeks now. ahead of most counties at this stage, positive start

brookville wrote: »

While I agree kk have a headstart lots of teams are back around november if there not in the all Ireland it usually balances itself out during the year.
I wonder will dj be allowed use his 21s next sunday kk are probably through to the next stage are they?

I presume kildare will play laois but getting past kildare Sunday in freshford will get them into a semi final. The major emphasis has to be seeing how the new lads adapt. A few good showings will give them confidence to bring to the league. Our problems last year weren't restricted to our backs. Our whole play seemed to be to get rid asap. This was bound to happen as we couldn't continue the run we had after losing so many players. Hopefully they are more in tune with each other this year. We have to start drawing backs out of their comfort zone like other teams try against us. We have the players and competitions like the Walsh cup and league will sort out who wants it or not.

Leahy, Maher, Martin and Donnelly have their chance now along with others.

The winners of our group are playing offally/westmeath so its a great chance for the fringes to get game time I hope the fringe lads are used in this competition.hopefully we'll see the other half of fringe lads sunday.
Is john power back on the panel does anyone know?

danganabu wrote: »

What would Galway possibly gain from entering the Walsh cup? Neither Watefrod or Tipperary entered the Munster equivilant.

The same as any top team, you test your fringe or new players to see where their at.

Also was talking to one of the players and he said half the squad were going up on Wednesday and that we'll pretty much have the other half in Freshford on Sunday.

danganabu wrote: »

What would Galway possibly gain from entering the Walsh cup? Neither Watefrod or Tipperary entered the Munster equivilant.

Same as any other team I suppose. I can see the pre-season competitions being cancelled. Pity really that they are being de-valued as good chance to see who is coming up. Fringe players unlikely to be getting much league time now.

you are correct about "turkey shoots." Hard to see benefit of that, but Walsh Cup has been decent competition over past ten years.

i heard the first 9 of the club team of the year earlier,no huge suprises,holohan in goal,conor Delaney,tom alyward and john dalton in the full back line,conor fogarty,buckley and eoin McGrath in the half back line,robbie fitz and willie o dwyer in mf.i thought Richie reid,oillie walsh and maybe rice can count themselves unlucky but that'll always be the case with these sort of things

danganabu wrote: »

Not as familiar with the Walsh CUp as I would with the Munster one to be perfectly honest, with the Munster one as soon as they brought the colleges into it, that was the end of it. The new provincial championship structures is the final nail in the coffin, the League will become less important/relevant and the early season competitions just slip further down the chain.

The colleges not taking part in Walsh means that quite a significant number of county or aspirant county players will be training for Fitzgibbon rather than playing for counties. Galway not taking part is their own business but probably is good indicator of where it is on the radar of serious teams.

Pity really as always liked the competition and as a Dub it provided us with some rare highlights over the years like beating stripey lads in 2003 final in packed Parnell Park. It will not continue on present basis. Kilkenny playing Kildare, Wexford against Wicklow. What is the point? Cats could field 1978 team and win.

usualstripes wrote: »

It seems to be the general consensus here that there will be a different team out tomorrow. Anyone any idea what the make up of the panel will be like for freshford?

Haven’t heard anything about who will line out tomorrow but you’d be hoping to see the likes of Conor Delaney, Tom Awlyard, Tommy Walsh, Conor Doheny, Billy Ryan, John Walsh getting a run tomorrow. Will they go with Darren Brennan in goal again tomorrow or will Murphy or Darragh Holohan be in them?

Nedflanders02 wrote: »

Haven’t heard anything about who will line out tomorrow but you’d be hoping to see the likes of Conor Delaney, Tom Awlyard, Tommy Walsh, Conor Doheny, Billy Ryan, John Walsh getting a run tomorrow. Will they go with Darren Brennan in goal again tomorrow or will Murphy or Darragh Holohan be in them?

is darragh holohan on the senior panel?id prefer not to see any senior lads like murphy tomorrow or even for the walsh cup id much rather fringe players used. It's impossible to guess a team for tomorrow but id like to see the lads listed above get gametime

usualstripes wrote: »

It seems to be the general consensus here that there will be a different team out tomorrow. Anyone any idea what the make up of the panel will be like for freshford?

I'm sure the teams being pick are at least partly influenced by the Fitzgibbon Cup, makes more sense to give players who wont be playing much games at this time of year game time. Interesting to see Conor Browne and Bill Sheehan on the panel last week giving they werent involved with the under 21s last year. Always thought Cody but far more emphasis on club form than underage intercounty form.

Good to see fringe lads getting a run that's what this competion is about while we might not learn a whole lot it'll give confidence to the younger lads.I think the whole county wants to see delaney or tom alyward tried at 3 hopefully both will see league time in that position also lads like billy ryan and john walsh are lively and might add something during the summer.

Cornerback1 wrote: »

Big year for Blanchfield as well. He has had a good few run outs so time to push on now and claim a place on the first 15.

Decent win in Freshford today. Opposition very average. Ryan Bergin very good corner back, Tommy Walsh very sure in the other corner too, John Walsh was very sharp & finished anything he got excellently, Conor O'Shea decent centre back, Martin Keoghan got on a lot of ball in half forwards.