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

Kkman00 wrote: »

You seem to think every 21/22 year old should already be the finished article not everyone can be a tony kelly or Austin gleeson you have to be patient with young lads and give them time the like of Murphy and blanchfield have shown good potential and their some of our better prospects be patient!!

I'm not just talking about Murphy & Blanchfield. We haven't had and still don't have any player under the age of 21 capable of winning an all star like Galway, Tipp, Cork, Waterford and Clare have had in recent years.

Yes we need to be patient but it's worrying to see so many players be tried and ultimately failed to deliver over the past number of years. Our best players are still our longest serving eg. Eoin Murphy, Paul Murphy, Padraig Walsh, Cillian Buckley, Conor Fogarty, Walter Walsh, TJ Reid and Richie Hogan.

Ger Alyward was probably the last player that came close to breaking in to that group but injury has unfortunately pushed him back considerably. Richie Leahy is probably the next closest to doing so but he has a bit to go yet.

Cody tried a lot of new players in the league last year and very few did enough to claim a jersey or even see game time come the championship. Players of any age need to start stepping up quickly or we will continue to go backwards.

You list alot of players there but gleeson was average at best last year, dowling not done alot either and since Kelly won hurler of the year, young hurler of the year and the all Ireland in 2013 he's done nothing and was very poor last year good hurler but inconsistent struggled with simple frees. Let's get behind the lads we are going through a transition we can't have an endless conveyer belt of careys, sheflins and tjs, look how long it's taken Cork have faith and build a team we can't win every game every year its the first game of the season.

To be fair to players I agree that you have to give the younger ones some time to get up to inter county level, especially in Kilkenny, as the standard of strength and fitness that our 19-22 year olds have coming into the senior set up is probably the lowest of ANY inter county setup in the country. Essentially we create talent at 12-16 and do nothing to convert it to senior grade. Cody has an impossible job on his hands at the moment and to be fair to him, he’s not a miracle worker. Everyone else outside of KK does not understand the poor standard of player being handed over to Cody. For years people said that younger players had to do an apprenticeship and sit on th3 sidelines until 24/26. Rubbish, they simply were not up to the physical or mental standards to play inter county hurling and Cody had to do this job, which should mainly have been done by 5he managers that came before him, but wasn’t.

Regarding last night, A COUPLE OF THINGS BECAME CLEAR.
1. We won’t win anything this year. Were years off Galway, Waterford or Tipp.
2. We had more natural talent than Cork last night, and a couple of times should have scored goals but didn’t. The game suited us, in a similar way to the game versus Tipp in Semple stadium last year. Loose marking open game. Our soft light hurlers were given space to play. That doesn’t happen in championship. But we do have a decent amount of natural ability in that team.
3. Our players lack drive. They may not win a confrontation, but they should at least try, which a couple of our lads lack.
4. Some of the players will never make inter county, and it would be better off to ditch them now and get in a lesser player now who will make it in the future.
5. Cody should start turning the screw on the younger lads, regarding putting it in, drive, and hunger. They walk around the field out there. And last night a lot of them thought they were playing a club game.

A couple of concerns with players last night.
Deegan keeps turning back onto his left to hit the ball - somebody please tell him that this is inter county standard hurling, and that is simply not acceptable. Also he doesn’t have pace, so letting his man run out in front of him is a no no.
Holden needs to decide he wants to play inter county or not, and put it in.
Walter, needs to find a mean side to him, he’s too soft for 6’4”.
If Alan Murphy stands off anymore waiting on a pass so he can score, he’ll be standing out in the stands. He’s only on at the moment as he’s supposed to be a free taker. With that in mind he needs to convert all the frees. Free takers missing easy scores in the modern game is not acceptable.

droppingball wrote: »

Agree on points one and partly on point 2. Totally disagree on 3, 4 and 5. We started with a very inexperienced side last night. For what they lacked in quality they worked their socks off last night.

On Point 4 Some of them may not make it but they deserve a chance. There are lesser players there than due to their hard work like Mossy Keoghan are starting instead of others. Their is also a few moreon the panel who didn't start for a number of reasons including playing two matches in Fitzgibbon who will get a chance. Cody is doing the right thing going with the youth. With time and intense training a few of these will make it.

Point 5 Thing I have taking away from the last two weeks is if a ball breaks we are back to fighting like dogs for it so 100% disagree here

Thought the young lads worked hard the leaders in the team stood up, Padraig Cillian and Eoin Murphy were very good while Walter had some good moments. All in all I was happy leaving Pairc Ui Chaoimh last night which is some stadium by the way. Pity about the lighting and parking outside the grounds which are awful.

Agree on all points with dropping ball, lads need time and patience but the hungerand workrate is plain to see the last two weeks. We won't win an All Ireland this year but I would be confident we will stop someone else winning one

Serious work, or new players, needed in the full back line. Cork only scored one but could have had three goals if it wasn't for Eoin Murphy. Going forward, better than I expected though the lack of a goal threat is still evident.

From an outsider point of view, very harsh on your own from some of these posts...... maybe its because you guys had such great players for ages you are judging a few of the new faces poorly.

Workrate last night was very evident, hell its something our forwards in Tipp miss a good bit. If ye find a decent full back and bring Padraig Walsh back to the half back line, along with getting Paul Murphy, TJ Reid and Richie Hogan back into the starting 15, ye will be hard to beat even if there won't be an All Ireland this year. Christ, had their been 2 more minutes of normal time in Thurles last year ye would have knocked out Waterford despite being second fiddle most of the night!

Ompala wrote: »

From an outsider point of view, very harsh on your own from some of these posts...... maybe its because you guys had such great players for ages you are judging a few of the new faces poorly.

Workrate last night was very evident, hell its something our forwards in Tipp miss a good bit. If ye find a decent full back and bring Padraig Walsh back to the half back line, along with getting Paul Murphy, TJ Reid and Richie Hogan back into the starting 15, ye will be hard to beat even if there won't be an All Ireland this year. Christ, had their been 2 more minutes of normal time in Thurles last year ye would have knocked out Waterford despite being second fiddle most of the night!

Being second fiddle for most of the night is not where we want to be. We can’t rely on others teams making unforced errors to win games. The younger lads last night have talent that is very evident to see, but they don’t have work rate or work ethic or bottle, that was very evident to see in the U-21 final last year. If they can get those missing pieces of the jigsaw then we have here, I believe, a much better team than those on this forum think.

Regarding Pat Lyng he tried hard and is new to this and I think others are too harsh on him at this stage, he’s still very new and is still very light. Similarly, Mossy Keoghan, but these two have bottle, that others who have got far more time don’t have.

Kk could very easily have won last night. Cork had a very young side out too. 5 mins to go and we were not battling for it, that’s a concern, as that has nothing to do with fitness.

Cork gave us every chance to beat them last night. They were rusty enough but we were not good enough to take them. Zero goal treat.

Eoin Murphy - Amazing, best kk keeper ever. Shot stopping, frees,puck outs all 10/10
Joey Holden - Poor, all he wants to do is wrestle, poor skill level, he was lucky Cork forwards struggled with the pitch. He must hate the sight of Harnedy
Padriag Walsh - As I said before kk best player wasted full back, but the only option at the moment.
Paddy Deegan - U 14 hurlers have more skill, blatantly cant hit off his right side, there for a roasting on a dry day, slow on the turn.
Conor O Shea - Simply not an option, way to slow, Cork scored 1-24 should have got 3-27/28, no pace,when he gets turned he is finished
Joe Lyng - Bif of a presence, but striking, touch and distribution way off, struggled on Lehane. Poor state of affairs if he is Kilkennys no.1 centre back
Cillian Buckley - Great game getting on loads of possions, had a good duel with Flynn, who had decent game to if wasteful.
James Maher - Good athlete - worked hard and tired in the second half. Again he looks awkward and easy to hook.
Conor Fogarty. Consistent 6/10 display struggled on Kearney in the second half offers zero in possession. Loves a ruck
Pat Lyng- Worked hard but wasteful. Another with poor skill level
Richie Reid- Lovely Hurler which kk lack but doesn't want to know about the hard ball and the Cork debutant centre back was Excellent. Jury still out
Martin Keoghan - Worked hard, he will make it, great experience
Conor Martin - Kilkenny had some good hurlers over last 10-12 years get dropped over a bad game or two when they get their chance. Conor Martin is their 4 years now. Shocking display again
Walter Walsh - Got on loads of possession, great battle with Cadogen, bit wasteful, should have 4/5 points, very little help inside with him. Again looks awkward
Alan Murphy - poor night on the frees. Not sure if he is up to it yet. Looking for loose ball can't win 50/50 ball or escape his marker.

TJ - Off the pace and looks unfit
Ollie Walsh - did ok when on, trying to be creative and take opponents on
John Donnelly- poor mobility, still young though.

Big match against Clare next week, a must win.

Village87 wrote: »

Cork gave us every chance to beat them last night. They were rusty enough but we were not good enough to take them. Zero goal treat.

Eoin Murphy - Amazing, best kk keeper ever. Shot stopping, frees,puck outs all 10/10
Joey Holden - Poor, all he wants to do is wrestle, poor skill level, he was lucky Cork forwards struggled with the pitch. He must hate the sight of Harnedy
Padriag Walsh - As I said before kk best player wasted full back, but the only option at the moment.
Paddy Deegan - U 14 hurlers have more skill, blatantly cant hit off his right side, there for a roasting on a dry day, slow on the turn.
Conor O Shea - Simply not an option, way to slow, Cork scored 1-24 should have got 3-27/28, no pace,when he gets turned he is finished
Joe Lyng - Bif of a presence, but striking, touch and distribution way off, struggled on Lehane. Poor state of affairs if he is Kilkennys no.1 centre back
Cillian Buckley - Great game getting on loads of possions, had a good duel with Flynn, who had decent game to if wasteful.
James Maher - Good athlete - worked hard and tired in the second half. Again he looks awkward and easy to hook.
Conor Fogarty. Consistent 6/10 display struggled on Kearney in the second half offers zero in possession. Loves a ruck
Pat Lyng- Worked hard but wasteful. Another with poor skill level
Richie Reid- Lovely Hurler which kk lack but doesn't want to know about the hard ball and the Cork debutant centre back was Excellent. Jury still out
Martin Keoghan - Worked hard, he will make it, great experience
Conor Martin - Kilkenny had some good hurlers over last 10-12 years get dropped over a bad game or two when they get their chance. Conor Martin is their 4 years now. Shocking display again
Walter Walsh - Got on loads of possession, great battle with Cadogen, bit wasteful, should have 4/5 points, very little help inside with him. Again looks awkward
Alan Murphy - poor night on the frees. Not sure if he is up to it yet. Looking for loose ball can't win 50/50 ball or escape his marker.

TJ - Off the pace and looks unfit
Ollie Walsh - did ok when on, trying to be creative and take opponents on
John Donnelly- poor mobility, still young though.

Big match against Clare next week, a must win.

Agree with above comments, but would give some of the players more of an out than you did. But if they are calling me ignorant, what are they going to call you. Joke��

PeterCasey wrote: »

Who did Ollie Walsh come on for.

He didn’t come on

PeterCasey wrote: »

Village87 wrote: »

Cork gave us every chance to beat them last night. They were rusty enough but we were not good enough to take them. Zero goal treat.

Eoin Murphy - Amazing, best kk keeper ever. Shot stopping, frees,puck outs all 10/10
Joey Holden - Poor, all he wants to do is wrestle, poor skill level, he was lucky Cork forwards struggled with the pitch. He must hate the sight of Harnedy
Padriag Walsh - As I said before kk best player wasted full back, but the only option at the moment.
Paddy Deegan - U 14 hurlers have more skill, blatantly cant hit off his right side, there for a roasting on a dry day, slow on the turn.
Conor O Shea - Simply not an option, way to slow, Cork scored 1-24 should have got 3-27/28, no pace,when he gets turned he is finished
Joe Lyng - Bif of a presence, but striking, touch and distribution way off, struggled on Lehane. Poor state of affairs if he is Kilkennys no.1 centre back
Cillian Buckley - Great game getting on loads of possions, had a good duel with Flynn, who had decent game to if wasteful.
James Maher - Good athlete - worked hard and tired in the second half. Again he looks awkward and easy to hook.
Conor Fogarty. Consistent 6/10 display struggled on Kearney in the second half offers zero in possession. Loves a ruck
Pat Lyng- Worked hard but wasteful. Another with poor skill level
Richie Reid- Lovely Hurler which kk lack but doesn't want to know about the hard ball and the Cork debutant centre back was Excellent. Jury still out
Martin Keoghan - Worked hard, he will make it, great experience
Conor Martin - Kilkenny had some good hurlers over last 10-12 years get dropped over a bad game or two when they get their chance. Conor Martin is their 4 years now. Shocking display again
Walter Walsh - Got on loads of possession, great battle with Cadogen, bit wasteful, should have 4/5 points, very little help inside with him. Again looks awkward
Alan Murphy - poor night on the frees. Not sure if he is up to it yet. Looking for loose ball can't win 50/50 ball or escape his marker.

TJ - Off the pace and looks unfit
Ollie Walsh - did ok when on, trying to be creative and take opponents on
John Donnelly- poor mobility, still young though.

Big match against Clare next week, a must win.

Who did Ollie Walsh come on for.

It was leahy who came on

I think cleere won't be back for a few months but he looks a good option in the half back line
I was hoping we might of seen delaney or tom aylward tried in the league but it looks like he has his mind made up with walsh.
Alan murphy was very good last week it was very hard for him to have the same influence but he missed a few frees.
Richie reid has being a bright spark so far

Clare next week is a must win game we haven't a great record recently against them.I didn't see their match today but they had a good win.You'd expect their ff line to cause us more trouble.
Ger alyward could be nearly back he'd be a help and tj should also start.
I'd like to see leahy and donnelly start and hopefully delaney gets gametime soon.

Cornerback1 wrote: »

It's going to be a long season. Realistically, we'll probably be in the relegation playoff but we need to use the league to try lads out and be ready for Leinster championship.

We lost a match away from home by 3 points which was pretty much score for score the majority of the way through and it slipped away from us after we lost our captain and best player on the night to what looked at the time like a very serious injury. We have three home matches to come out of four and i didn't see anything down in Ennis today to scare the children and the result in Walsh Park paints our draw with Wexford last week in a better light.

I thought there was a number of positives to take from last night but the defence is major area of concern. Obviously we have Paul Murphy to come back but what's he going to be like having not hurled for six months? And the injury to Jason Cleere is missed opportunity to give him game time. Hopefully Delaney will be given some role next weekend, preferably at full which would release Padraig out to the half, but he could also be used in the corner or on the wing where Holden and O'Shea struggled for long periods last night.