Kilkenny GAA Thread Part 3 **MOD NOTE POST 1***

Must love hardship wrote: »

What would you like to see implemented at the following levels?

1. Primary schools level
2. Secondary school level
3. Club underage up to 16
4. Club youth 16 to 20
5. Intercounty 13 -17
6. Intercounty 18-23
7. Intercounty senior.
8. County board level.
9. What are you doing personally in your own club to improve the situation?
10. What new facilities are needed in the county?

1) A. Participation leagues (25 player panel, 15 start, 10 subs at half time, everyone gets a game) with regular games. Final scores aren't taken into account in league tables, only win/draw/loss - B - Competitive cup competitions with backdoor so school teams have at least two knockout games a year - C - Regular visits (once a fortnight) from coaches with pre-planned coaching sessions, with tips of skills to work on at home.

2) Amalgamate schools and form a league. North Kilkenny (Comer & Johnstown), West (Callan, Gaelscoil, Kilkenny Tech), East (Thomastown, Johns College, Graiguenamanagh), South (Ballyhale, Ferrybank (under Kilkenny VEC), Mooncoin ). Invite Good Counsel, Carrick-on-Suir schools, Borris VS and other schools that have Kilkenny pupils to participate. Provide Kilkenny schools with regular coaching.

3) A mixture of regular structure club competitions and participation leagues. Participation leagues are to ensure lads get regular games and don't become disillusioned at an impressionable age.

4) A structured regular club season with at least 20 games a year in hurling and 10 in football independent of county teams and in lieu with adult competitions.

5) A - Regular games at club level so players retain natural development. - B - County split into 6 development regions. Each region would contain a selection of clubs and would pull 4/5 players from each clubs, and provide high intensity coaching with an emphasis on first touch, speed and movement and thought under pressure, with a league of no holds barred games to practice the training in. The county minor team would be pulled from these 120 odd players. Development sessions, games don't interfere with club games, but run alongside participation leagues. - C - This will also be done with aim of providing every club with at least 30 players over a 7/8 year period who would have undergone county level training to improve club level. - D - Non weight strength, condition & nutrition programme given to work on in their own time.

6) A - Regular games at club level so players retain natural development. - B - County split into 6 development regions. Each region would contain a selection of clubs and would pull 4/5 players from each clubs, and provide high intensity coaching with an emphasis on first touch, speed and movement and thought under pressure, with a league of no holds barred games to practice the training in. The county U20 team would be pulled from these 120 odd players. Development sessions, games don't interfere with club games, but run alongside participation leagues. - C - This will also be done with aim of providing every club with at least 30 players over a 7/8 year period who would have undergone county level training to improve club level. - D - Full strength, condition & nutrition programme given to work on in their own time.

7) Improve strength & conditioning programme in players. Improve tactical awareness. Introduce a critical assessment at the end of every season to see where to improve for the next.

8) Increase funding initiatives. Introduce 16 team leagues for the period of January to June at adult level to develop the club scene further, add more games for club players and increase revenue intake (5 game/weekend pass for €15?). Give priority funding to underage and schools development.

9) Nothing at the moment beyond regular lotto tickets and getting to games when I can.

10 ) A - Fully operational floodlights in Nowlan Park. - B - Further develop Callan to a Full stand and floodlights that can hold 5k. - C - Aim to have floodlights, improved dressing rooms where needed and at least one side with partial seating and coverings at every club ground within 10-15 years. - Immediately improve toilet facilities in Nowlan Park.

On GDAs/GPO's and other full time coaching staff.

I think JJ's Left Hand made some mention of it and other counties and the Social Media Profile they create or promote on

Wexford has followed the Games Promotion Officers Model (GPO) over the last two years. At the 2020 Annual meeting, the outgoing Chairman mentioned that there were now over 20 clubs in the county with access to GPO's.

The model is, it seems (not sure though) based on the Dublin model and on the East Leinster GAA Funding model whereby Croke Park and Leinster GAA subside the costs of employing GPO's.

In Wexford the model is as follows

Club pays One Third
County Board Pays One Third
Leinster/ Croke Park

GPO's are employed by County Board.

How this is work?

As mentioned, a range of clubs share a GPO. In some cases there is a GPO for a cluster of 3 clubs.
GPO is attached to local schools for daily programmes and the host club(s) for coach education and direct coaching, primarily but not exclusively up to Go Games ages (u11/12).

The bigger clubs in the county share GPO's with Faythe Harriers (Wexford town) and Kilmore (on the coast) and Taghmon (10kms from Wexfod Urban area). St Martins and Shelmaliers share a GPO. Oulart the Ballagh share (I think) with Buffers Alley. From that list, you can see traditionally strong hurling clubs.

So, a club needs to pay at least a third of the costs. One presumes it comes from additional fund raising, increased sponsorship / local businesses. For bigger clubs that might be an easier task than smaller clubs, either urban or rural.

Would that model suit our clubs or some of them? What are the benefits? And how is it measured?

Wexford town has a population of over 20,000. It has one senior club (Harriers) and one Junior B club based in the Clonard Parish (Na Fianna) which is trying to establish itself as a hurling and camoige club. Wexford town is bordered by very big senior clubs, primarily Shelmaliers (current senior champions), St Martins and Glyn Barntown.

The GPO model, on paper at least, looks like a very solid initiative but its way too early to see what the medium and long term benefits will be.

The GDA model (Games Administrators) applies to every county as does the Games Development Manager (GDM). I think we have 2 (?) in Kilkenny and a GDM. Again, Wexford by comparison, have a GDM, a football specific GDA and maybe 2/3 GDA's. Up to 2020, Wexford had a hurling specific coach but that role is no longer active as that coach returned to former professional role (teaching)

So, while at a glance we compare poorly at neighbouring counties when it comes to staff (full or part time), I'm not sure that its a useful method of looking at where we are at.

Squads:

Squads are limited to what they do with players that clubs send in. Is that a reflection on feeder clubs or schools? For example, the stronger 24 would usually make a TF squad. We can debate the merits of that process but there's very little time for a squad coach(volunteer) to technically coach a player who, for example, might be pre-dominantly one sided to become two sided or improve pace or power over a period of maybe 5 months with one session a week perhaps to do so? These players are most active in their club and school and therein lies the challenge.

Some counties have begun to put together u13 squads or groups, based on districts including Cork, Wexford and others. Now, its a statistical probability that of say 120 young lads in Wexford or Cork or Kilkenny, that 40/50 of them would have been likely candidates for their county U14 squads. There are of course exceptions and its those exceptions that pose a challenge for us and other counties.

The issues are ones of coaching, in the full sense of the term. While our success under BC and before that have been brilliant, we have faced times before as a hurling county where intercounty was like desert for us. We need, as clubs, schools and county to look at what we are doing and what we need to change, improve on or throw away.

The fertile base for coaching is Primary school level. We need to recultivate and reseed that fertile base. And it is not easy work and it is work that will take time to show promise and sustainable outcomes.

It is absolutely unrealistic to expect a small number of coaches to consistently work at all primary schools in a given geographical area. Unrealistic too to expect a volunteer coaches or teachers to do so, either.

There is a difference between Games Promotion and Games Development. For me, Games Promotion is about providing opportunities for all children to learn about and get the opportunity to play Gaelic Games. That's why Games Promotion is more amenable to Social Media use. A positive outcome would be that GAA and more specifically would be part of the Primary Schools curriculum.

Games Development is probably too wide a description for GDA's. Any child who takes up hurling (and I am talking about hurling specifically- football follows a similar route I guess) does so because of family or friends or school or a positive coaching influence, support or simply a parent or parents who will drive a child to a training or coaching or match. Promoting the game is key at this stage of a child / player development. Having the hurl and ball as much as possible at home, club or school will, with coaching and a bit of luck, open up the pathway for all young players as they grow: hopefully the club will have enough of these players up to the end of theit playing ages and of them, a few from each club will be good enough to play county.

My own view and most likely not the view of the GAA, is that Games Development is about coaching. Quality games based coaching. A buzz word these days but simply put games based coaching is challenging players to execute the skills they have in game play situations or drills. Games based coaching is not about how good we as coaches are at having drills that are straight running, striking and hand passing unopposed and under no real pressure. There is of course a need for drills but balanced and not the core element of any session.

So while we do face challenges and our inter county teams (minor, u 20/21 and senior) are clearly facing new obstacles and our previous dominance at senior looks, for some, to be fading away as serious annual challengers, the bigger issue for me is the quality of coaching in our schools and clubs and what we can do to influence changes at club or school level and how can our County Board assist us and support us in that.

I don't know if that support is more coaching staff?
I don't know if current funding models are achievable for clubs to follow what other counties (Wexford, Carlow, Meath etc)
Is is about changing how we as coaches are provided with new learning opportunities outside of and in addition to current coach education models
Is it about a conversation and an action plan with all our primary schools, urban and rural to look at issues like movement and agility and coordination?
Is it about coaching clusters with neighbouring clubs to try and improve the coaching environment for stronger chaps from each club?

From my biased and Kilkenny specific view, There'll will always be players like the class of Keher, DJ, Henry, Tommy, JJ, Richie Power. Its just that they are not always born round the same time. And thats just the last 25-30 years. Cody did what he did to get the absolute best of those and many others.

There may well be another of these in a junior club or primary school somewhere in the county. But there are players now in every club and in every school who want to play our game.

I'd rather we discussed the methods of how we do that at the same time as we discuss who will do it.

JJs Left Hand wrote: »

Superb post.

From a coaching perspective when I have gone to coaching courses in Kilkenny there's two things that stand out to me:

1) the low numbers. If you consider how many clubs are in Kilkenny and how many teams each club has from U7 to U17 there should be way more coaches attending these days to upskill but the interest either isn't there or the promotion of these days within clubs is not up to it. Numbers rarely exceed 20 or 25 in my opinion when there should be twice that.

2) I have rarely come out of a course in Kilkenny feeling like I learned anything. Now that may be my own arrogance but the only sessions I feel like I learned anything was the first S&C one I went to (the rest were just carbon copies) and one Saturday morning in Kierans where Richie O Neill put on an exhibition in goalkeeping drills.

Just on point 2 is that possibly because the focus is on universal drills rather than a specialised focus. I'll state here that I haven't done any Gaa coaching courses but I have done FAI courses and there's definitely a progression from the low level courses to the mid level courses in regards getting the players far more aware tactically as well as continuing progression in the skills of the game. From your experience it sounds like your benefited far more from the specialised courses so I'm just wondering if there's enough of them been done.

kksaints wrote: »

Just on point 2 is that possibly because the focus is on universal drills rather than a specialised focus. I'll state here that I haven't done any Gaa coaching courses but I have done FAI courses and there's definitely a progression from the low level courses to the mid level courses in regards getting the players far more aware tactically as well as continuing progression in the skills of the game. From your experience it sounds like your benefited far more from the specialised courses so I'm just wondering if there's enough of them been done.

Possibly. I suppose it all comes down to what you can apply in your own bubble. I don't know what I'm looking for when I go to these. A bit of innovation maybe.

Alonzo Moseley wrote: »

I am aware of the eligibility, as mentioned, it's just a personal gripe that a YHOT award to a player in their 3rd year playing senior county just seems a bit off

I'd make the same observation if Mullen won it again (which he may well have done if not injured)

I dont see why it seems a bit off.
It isnt a fresher/new player award. Its young player of the year. Big difference.

HammerItHome wrote: »

Curious to know have many read Malachy Clerkins piece in the Irish Times last week about Cork footballers training on the beach recently?

I have heard off a colleague in work that a club in north kilkenny are back training using their gym...

If this is true how can this be allowed: 1. there is not supposed to be club training going ahead 2. The rise of infection rate in Ireland is very high right now 3. commercial gyms that are able to follow guidelines cannot open.

Anyone heard of this or any clubs gone back already? things are a lot more different than June, specifically the daily case numbers

Madness especially when theyre months away from playing. Clubs shoulf give training plans for players to do work at home but gym and collective training should be penalised.

JJs Left Hand wrote: »

1. Primary schools level

Probably more engagement from the county coaching officers but not enough experience of this to comment

2. Secondary school level

See above. From a hurling perspective I'd like to see more kids not going to Kierans but academically they're strong so hurling not the only influence

3. Club underage up to 16

Games, games, games, games. Our competitions have too few games because clubs whinge about playing games when some players are missing on holidays or something through the summer. Give teams a competition with about 11/12 league games under the proviso that if necessary you can play 13 a side but if you can't field a team tough **** you give a walkover. Would also encourage teams to play in A because they'll be playing teams of a similar level and not just getting anihalated by the Boro.

4. Club youth 16 to 20

Exact same as above. The lack of games is incredibly frustrating.

5. Intercounty 13 -17

Revamp of the development squads to more regional set ups and a complete revamp of the coaching set up to more modern game based techniques. Essentially we need more GDOs

6. Intercounty 18-23

Million dollar question. In terms of developing underage county players I'd love to see a couple of divisional club teams to expose players from Junior clubs to a higher level of competition once they reach adult grade. North and South squad for intermediate and junior players. Would require a complete rethink of the competition structures but Kerry and Cork can do it...

7. Intercounty senior.

A bit more thought being put in. Have we an actual hurling coach in there or just a few selectors and a manager? Who's in charge of the training?

8. County board level.

Dont know enough to comment.

Edit to add from an underage perspective I'd like to see far better sharing of information. GDOs in Wexford, Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Clare share so much information on Twitter or on their websites but I've seen **** all from Kilkenny in the last 12 months. There's so many resources on Twitter in particular from individuals, not just county setups, but so many coaches aren't on Twitter so our GDOs should be circulating that kind of stuff to improve coaches throughout the county.

9. What are you doing personally in your own club to improve the situation?

Underage coach within the club.

10. What new facilities are needed in the county?

Astroturf pitch. Would also like to see the county board invest in gym equipment to help the schools teams on the proviso that each school has a number of teachers taught in proper S&C

There's a lot in that but on 1 what more do you want county development/coaching staff to be doing?
Very hard to see many moving from Kierans but is the schools game really much of an issue?
Getting games is important but change up structures of competitions to have several competitions on the go and not simply 1 league and a championship and get more clubs playing different clubs each year not the same sides over and over.
On games for 16s to 20s when you have players eligible and playing regularly for adult teams in older players cases its hard to fit in so many games for the age groups.
Divisional sides would be great but is there enough of a need for it. Cork/Kerry are so big geographically and with around 40 clubs is amalgamations to get some players playing senior really needed?

Village87 wrote: »

Excellent post.

The greatest ever myth in Kilkenny is the development squads. There was no developments squads when JJ ,Tommy and Henry went through the underage structure. Even lads like Cha, Richie Power, John Tennyson, Micheal Fennelly and that very successful age group did not use development squads. All these players were club created players and most of them were known all around the county at 14.
When Kilkenny were winning All Irelands the media needed something to explain the success and development squads were the easy target,much to the joy of Ned Quinn.

The GAA didnt really have these development set ups in place so it wasnt really the same. The development systems only kick in from under 14 on and are about improving standards of all players. Its not about producing players for inter county level. Its about helping some players in clubs who can use what theyve learnt to help their team mates.

ghostumpire wrote: »

On GDAs/GPO's and other full time coaching staff.



In Wexford the model is as follows

Club pays One Third
County Board Pays One Third
Leinster/ Croke Park

GPO's are employed by County Board.

How this is work?

As mentioned, a range of clubs share a GPO. In some cases there is a GPO for a cluster of 3 clubs.
GPO is attached to local schools for daily programmes and the host club(s) for coach education and direct coaching, primarily but not exclusively up to Go Games ages (u11/12).



I was only talking to a lad from a rural club at work about this topic. What benefit are clubs/schools currently getting from Kilkenny's GDO?

If 10 clubs got together and enployed a GDO, what would the cost be vs the benefits? Give him an average wage of about E35000. Surely Croke park or Co. Board would supply some form of grant? This gives a max cost per club of 3500 but I'd presume it could be well under 2k. If he/she gave a full day at each school or a half day plus a few hrs coaching underage teams that evening and do this on a rotation basis, the GDO could spend a full day every third week. Also the GDO could organise mini leagues between the 10 clubs. I thought it was a good idea, especially with smaller clubs coming together.
Would it be of better benefit to clubs than the current Co. Board GDOs who get to clubs maybe twice a year like my own club. Neighbouring club doesn't get any visits.

jonniegoogle wrote: »

ghostumpire wrote: »

On GDAs/GPO's and other full time coaching staff.



In Wexford the model is as follows

Club pays One Third
County Board Pays One Third
Leinster/ Croke Park

GPO's are employed by County Board.

How this is work?

As mentioned, a range of clubs share a GPO. In some cases there is a GPO for a cluster of 3 clubs.
GPO is attached to local schools for daily programmes and the host club(s) for coach education and direct coaching, primarily but not exclusively up to Go Games ages (u11/12).



I was only talking to a lad from a rural club at work about this topic. What benefit are clubs/schools currently getting from Kilkenny's GDO?

If 10 clubs got together and enployed a GDO, what would the cost be vs the benefits? Give him an average wage of about E35000. Surely Croke park or Co. Board would supply some form of grant? This gives a max cost per club of 3500 but I'd presume it could be well under 2k. If he/she gave a full day at each school or a half day plus a few hrs coaching underage teams that evening and do this on a rotation basis, the GDO could spend a full day every third week. Also the GDO could organise mini leagues between the 10 clubs. I thought it was a good idea, especially with smaller clubs coming together.
Would it be of better benefit to clubs than the current Co. Board GDOs who get to clubs maybe twice a year like my own club. Neighbouring club doesn't get any visits.

I'd imagine there's be nothing stopping it in theory but in practice it presents a few challenges, I think.

Who would be the employer? Its a complicated area at the best of times and would be moreso in that suggestion. Perhaps one club could be the employer and take legal responsibility for all employment law matters. Would be a big ask for that club. Or a local company maybe taking the employment responsibility and then '' loaning'' out or seconding that person? The idea itself is fine, its the other issues that could become a burden for club volunteers. No doubt the clubs concerned could organise a work rota to meet their needs and account for annual leave/sick leave all the other matters that arise in an employer vs employee.

I tried to find it earlier but I couldn't but I recall a year or more ago two clubs in Cork going down that route, independent of the County Board. Might have been Bishopstown and Blarney or Ballincolig and Blarney.

The scheme I outlined earlier has the administrative support of Wexford County Board and the additional access to Leinster and Croke Park ,crucially in employment areas.

Whether clubs go their own route through clusters is always worth considering but ideally, in my view, a collective and strategic approach is required in Kilkenny. Whether that approach is for more paid coaches or different supports for club coaches I don't know.

Clubs need to start the conversation and ideally not in an atmosphere of recrimination or looking at what others too but looking at what they need to be planning for and the county structures need to be doing the same.

ghostumpire wrote: »

jonniegoogle wrote: »

I'd imagine there's be nothing stopping it in theory but in practice it presents a few challenges, I think.

Who would be the employer? Its a complicated area at the best of times and would be moreso in that suggestion. Perhaps one club could be the employer and take legal responsibility for all employment law matters. Would be a big ask for that club. Or a local company maybe taking the employment responsibility and then '' loaning'' out or seconding that person? The idea itself is fine, its the other issues that could become a burden for club volunteers. No doubt the clubs concerned could organise a work rota to meet their needs and account for annual leave/sick leave all the other matters that arise in an employer vs employee.

I tried to find it earlier but I couldn't but I recall a year or more ago two clubs in Cork going down that route, independent of the County Board. Might have been Bishopstown and Blarney or Ballincolig and Blarney.

The scheme I outlined earlier has the administrative support of Wexford County Board and the additional access to Leinster and Croke Park ,crucially in employment areas.

Whether clubs go their own route through clusters is always worth considering but ideally, in my view, a collective and strategic approach is required in Kilkenny. Whether that approach is for more paid coaches or different supports for club coaches I don't know.

Clubs need to start the conversation and ideally not in an atmosphere of recrimination or looking at what others too but looking at what they need to be planning for and the county structures need to be doing the same.

I agree. The Co Board need to step up to the plate big time. Somebody here already alluded to the money they have saved by having Cody in charge. Maybe it's time to invest in the future.

jonniegoogle wrote: »

You're right, 10 clubs shouldn't have to employ a GDO but what I'm saying is that if they did, it would be of far better benefit to the clubs than what they are getting now.
I said either a full day with one school/club OR 1/2 day + an evening, bearing in mind a full day in a school would be no more than 5/6 hrs

It wouldnt really as these games development officers would be far too spread out. Now if you have someone working for county board overseeing maybe 10-12 clubs with guys working with the individual clubs beneath it.
You dont want or shouldnt need the guys going into schools every single week of school year but for a short period of 8-10 weeks

ghostumpire wrote: »

Current Coaching Courses:

Foundation:
In theory, any person wishing to coach at club level and with underage is required to have Garda Clearance and GAA/Camoige/LGFA Foundation award. There is a GAA guideline that states that everyone is required to complete Foundation in order to be be allowed coach. The Garda Clearance requirement is a statutory one.

Award One/Level One

Bit more detail in this one.

Award Two/Level 2

More advanced and to complete and get the award, each participant is required to submit a video of their coaching in practice.

There's probably been changes in in Awards 1+2 over last while.

There is or was a Masters level (Aawrd/Level 3?). Don't know if that is formal or offered.

For clubs, each Coaching Officer is meant to spread the information about upcoming courses. They are advertised too on Kilkenny webpage.

The question as to whether people wanting to take up coaching and the benefits of doing Coaching Courses.

Compulsory for Foundation. The compulsory nature of this can rub people up the wrong way, maybe. Ex players or parents wanting to get involved in club coaching definitely have a lot to bring and perhaps might see the Foundation requirement as being insulting or not respecting their voluntary contribution: however, I dont think its about that or certainly should not be about that. Rather its around 8 or ten hours duration over a few nights or a night or do and a Saturday and its chance to experience what others think they might bring to coaching and a chance, crucially, to reflect on how they were coached as players and what they took from that and what they'd get rid of.

The courses above that are very much a personal choice or part of a clubs philosophy encouraging clubs to do them.

The one off ones, positional coaching for example can be very good, in my experience. And I think its absolutely right that people going to coaching courses or events to have expectations of learning or experiencing something new and those delivering courses or events should ask what expectations they have beforehand and ask on conclusion were those expectations fully or partially met and take on board feedback if they get it. Its ok to say that after going, that you did not get a lot from it. But unless the people who design and deliver those courses hear that honest feedback, then its all hunky dory for them. And ultimately pointless.

I think there are opportunities for club clustering to facilitate coaching events with staff or guess coaches, using a few players from each club.
its worth considering and has a strong focus on practical applications.

Think these should be mandated if you wish to coach at a specific level.
Totally agree that you see some people, especially if they just stopped playing or recently stopped playing and were playing to a high level, get offended at being asked/told to attend a coaching course but coaching is so so different to playing.
Clubs do need to work with neighbouring clubs/rivals on coaching events with guests but very hard to do that unless you get county board to run more of these events.

blackcard wrote: »

The sight of Paul Murphy attacking the ball and driving it way down the field was terrific. My favourite memory of him was in the the semi-final against Limerick in 2014 played in driving horizontal sleet. As Kilkenny were hanging on in the last minute, he caught a high ball coming towards the Kilkenny goal. The final whistle blew as he made the clearance. He stated in an interview afterwards that he wasn't sure he had caught the ball as his hands were numb with the cold

Thanks for the memories, Paul

He was the top corner back in the country when he was at his peak, probably the best at the position since Ollie Canning. Declined later on, as we all do, (also should never have been played full back, but that's another story!)

jonniegoogle wrote: »

Maybe I'm picking you up wrong but you seem to think it'd be better for the development of the kids to have a coach coming in every 8-10 weeks than every 2-3 weeks, and not just for games which is the norm but for actual coaching.

Im saying they should come in once a week for 8 to 10 weeks do whatever work theyre doing. Not simply visit a school once in every 2 or 3 weeks.
They do 8 weeks in set of schools. even finish off that set with each school bringing teams to play in a local club and play a blitz of games and then the development officer moves on to another set of schools

dirkmeister wrote: »

The Independent reporting that Colin fennelly is taking a year out.

Interesting. Not retiring though. Obviously hoping Cody will be gone in 12 months

Revised Panel with C Fennelly dropping out:

Shamrocks Ballyhale
TJ Reid, Joey Holden, R Reid, D Mullen, A Mullen, E Cody, D Corcoran

Dicksboro
C Buckley, A Nolan

James Stephens
C Browne, N Brassil, T Dwyer, E Guilfoyle, C Kenny

O'Loughlins
P Deegan, H Lawlor, E O'Shea

Tullaroan
P Walsh, T Walsh, M Keoghan

Bennettsbridge
L Blanchfield, D Blanchfield

Danesfort
R Hogan

Tullogher Rosbercon
W Walsh

Comer
C Fogarty, C Delaney, C Wallace

Freshford
D Brennan

Glenmore
E Murphy, A Murphy

Thomastown
J Donnelly


G Ballycallan
B Ryan

Rower Inistioge
R Leahy

benji79 wrote: »

Interesting. Not retiring though. Obviously hoping Cody will be gone in 12 months

Looks like he's telling Cody I'll be back next year, when you're gone!

conor05 wrote: »

A year out at aged 31 at top level county hurling would be the end though would it not?

Maybe he can stay at a high level with his club Ballyhale.

You could see by Fennelly's body language last year been dropped by Cody didn't go down well.

To be fair to Cody, Colin deserved to be replaced.
And he hasn’t exactly been a high performer for the past number of years. Blowing hot and cold.
Had expected that getting the captaincy he would up his game but he didn’t, and you don’t deserve to be on a Cody kk team, just because you’re captain. We all know that!