Like most said Cork coming in the back door will be to our advantage. I was mighty impressed with the team V Wexford and how they finished them off. Being a few questions since but those should be ironed out come Sunday.
If ever we got a lucky run to an Ireland semi it was this year. Cork haven't won a game in HQ for some time.
I'm not so sure this cork team are that different to those of the past few years .cork have always had pace in the forwards. They have beaten clare and dublin which are at a similar level to themselves. The test will come when the Kilkenny forwards start to really work there backs with high intensity tackling and they have to hit 50/50ball down to forwards. Our forwards can win those not so sure corks can.
Workrate from the Kilkenny forwards is going to be critical in trying to prevent Cork from working the ball through the lines. In some ways Cork remind me of a back line in rugby the way they attack with a couple of runners running off the shoulder of the man with the ball. I think Kilkenny will have to have a midfielder playing deep to try and counteract this.
I think the cork match is a 50-50 match.Cork have their dander up and are definitely coming.Plenty of pace in attack which we won't like.They haven't won a match in croke park since 2014 I think but this team hasn't much baggage.They also have some good subs and have added steel to the backline something which hasn't always being the case.Both teams will fancy their chances.
On ourselves I take the point we were lucky enough against wexford especially with the goal at the end but eoin cody and alan Murphy missed 3 goals between them.I know rory o Connor was inches away from getting a goal aswell but we're cork not a collins save away from losing to clare when Tony Kelly had his shot saved?thats the way these things go you need a bit of luck along the way.Tipp had 2 or 3 good chances Saturday to beat Waterford.On the face of it this is a 50-50 game and ourselves and cork will both have to make a big improvement from the last match to get into a final
We are probably lucky to have started this rebuild a few years ago and remained competitive.Tipp and galway have to now start this rebuild.
I think we have definitely adjusted better to the modern game and our subs have worked well but the big test now lies ahead
When we brought on our subs against Waterford last year they didn't work so this should be a lesson for next Sunday
Alot of talk about delaney being close and Hogan starting so the team selection will be interesting.Id probably go with carey for his pace to get forward but a few big decisions to be made
Definitely think Cork playing three weeks in a row is a big advantage to Kilkenny. Also Kilkenny usually start well and will aim to again on Sunday next. Cork have a couple of injuries too but at least have an extra day recovery as opposed to Waterford. Very hard game to call but think Kk have the edge.
Both Kilkenny and Cork beat Dublin by similar margins. Therefore I feel it's a fifty fifty match. What might swing it for Kilkenny is the fact that they're lasting the pace over 70 minutes way better this year. Cork may feel the effects of playing three matches on the trot. However if Cork manage to get up to the pace quicker on the day and build up a sizable lead, we might be chasing the game throughout.
So to compare Kilkenny 2020 to Kilkenny 2021. Last year we caught a Galway team on the hop as they were sleepwalking their way to victory, scrambled over the line against Dublin before collapsing against Waterford
This year we had a moderate league, unimpressive against Laois and Antrim, beating Wexford and losing to Clare. Wexford has a last minute goal ruled out in the Leinster semi-final before we beat a covid depleted Dublin team.
Personnel wise, the backs are similar to last year with James Maher probably starting compared to Conor Delaney. Richie Reid maybe starting in midfield instead of Cillian Buckley, In the forwards, Adrian Mullen starts this year where Richie Hogan started last year
Was fitness an issue last year and are we fitter this year? Hard to say our backs or midfield are in better form than last year. Forwards hard to say. Last year we had Colin Fennelly and Walter on the bench, this year Walter and James Bergin
Paddy has become a bit of a leader for this team and gives his all. I've grown to like him and I believe he has many attributes but I wouldn't have said pace was one of them.
Thing with paddy is he has loads of pace that's not his problem. He gets caught out of position and then commits headless fouls. I've actually come to like him honest and will give his all. Just needs a bit of coaching on his positioning. Pace won't be a problem for him. If we keep it tight at the back there is goals to be got off that cork backline. They looked Ropey enough to me tonight against a poor Dublin forward unit. TJ could make hay.
Bookies have it as 50/50 which is fair enough. The thoughts of Jack O'Connor running at Paddy Deegan would give you nightmares. Cork will run at our defence to create goals, yellow cards, sin bins and penalties. If somehow we are in the running in the last 10 minutes, I would give us a chance as the effects of the playing consecutive weeks might catch up on Cork. They seemed to be struggling for a while in the last quarter before they pulled away again. Michael Carey to start with his pace? Conor Browne if fit for the same reason? Tough ask on Tommy Walsh to mark Horgan.
On the other hand, Cork also conceded a lot of scores and we have a few forwards to bring on for the last quarter.
Can't see us starting Richie Hogan midfield against Cork. Do you play Fogarty and just sit him in the half back line to cover the runner from deep? Leahy for his legs? Is Browne fit? Some interesting choices ahead.
Did we not get someone else in to help with s&c?I think they also worked with Limerick.
Looks like we're playing cork next.We will need to improve big time from the last game as tonight proves Dublin very average .Cork will cause us big trouble with pace
His name is Mickey Comerford from Loughlins. Former army I think. Was with the U20s prior to this. Sound man and now he's had 2 years with them you can see the difference.
Ok thanks for that didn't or don't know who he is. It's just we had both Dublin and Waterford bet up a stick at halftime last year and were either outhurled or just not conditioned enough to keep going. It was frightening how poor we played in both second halves compared to the first. We just seem to be more consistent this year.
Is there anywhere I can rewatch the Leinster senior hurling final from 2 weeks ago? Can't find it on Sky Go or YouTube. Thanks
Same man has the S&C job this year as had it last year. Personally I think it's the addition of some form of game plan thats doing it for us this year.
I will be roaring Dublin on later. Backed the double of Waterford and Dublin at 12/1. Waterford will run out of steam next week they were flagging badly today and Tipp nearly had them. I wouldn't fear cork either to be honest. I reckon we will beat either. Now limerick in the final will be a big ask but Cody won't have our lads lacking. They are finishing strong this year and a nice two week break should have us flying next week. Fair dues to whoever took over the conditioning this year we are definitely stronger later in the game compared to last year.
Don't make me shout for cork, I don't want to be in that kind of position!
So if Dublin beat Cork, we'll play Waterford.
If Cork beat Dublin, we'll play Cork.
Alot myself included wanted a change, there was plenty of good from Davy's tenure but felt like the time was right for a change. Eddie Brennan would seem like a popular choice down here and id welcome it, a few down here would say a Kilkenny man would never manage Wexford but from knowing lads through college and a previous job im well aware Tipp is your main rival. We all now how rumours work and ive been told he would be interested and that the dubs are lining him up with his work with Cuala so don't know who to believe. Derek McGrath would seem like a viable option with the short commute and been involved in faythe harriers where he has been very well received, i think alot of supporters might view it as groundhog day going back to the sweeper. Other option could be Joe Fortune a enniscorthy man living in Dublin, he managed Dublin to a Leinster u21 in 2016 has at least 1 county title with Ballyboden st endas, was involved in the Wexford u20s this year as a coach which is no endorsement after losing to kildare but Eddie had a similar experience with ye against Westmeath. Ive been told by people in the know finances won't be an issue especially with the financial support of a well known horse trainer.
I think daveys time was probably up and the novelty factor was wearing off.I doubt the players went down looking for him to stay like a few years ago.He got them to a certain level but the fans now wanted the forwards pushed up.
A few older players found it heavy going recently.This squad is on the go since Liam dunnes time who probably didn't get the credit he deserved.Derek mcgrath will probably throw his hat in the ring but they would probably prefer a more attacking coach like Eddie Brennan but I dunno if he would go.It will be interesting to see where davey goes next.A bit like mourhino it's a bit of short term success but more often than not leaves a bit taste in the mouth.
Leinster will be interesting next year with a new man in charge of Wexford and a Galway likely in a full rebuild and definitely without Joe Canning.
It will be interesting to see does the new man in charge of Wexford trust his backs or was Davy right to have not trusted them. I think Wexford probably need a bit of new blood there is a lot of miles on the clock for a lot of those Wexford lads just due to the style of play he demands from his players in his system. Looking at how Waterford and Clare went after Davey left you could see Wexford probably struggle next year.
I think Galway need to start blooding some of their young guns whether they keep on Shane O'Neill or find a new man. This will probably lead to an erratic season or two for them.
We could have robbed it with the goal chances in the last 10 mins but ye definitely deserved it over the 60 mins, scores from play was 1-11 2-3 which tells a story and you're ability to get scores easier was a big factor i felt.
Special mention for 2 people involved in Wexford last night, the minute silence pre game was for Willie Carley Snr who passed away on Monday and his funeral was at noon yesterday in Wexford town, his son Paul a former Wexford hurler was on the sideline last night as joint manager of Wexford while his grandson Cillian Byrne was wearing number 9 for us, done their family proud.
The ref sucked the life out of the minor match, blowing for no reason a lot of the time. Any chance of a decent flow was prohibited by his actions. As the game went on you could see the frustration getting to the players. Almost afraid to tackle. The young Kilkenny lads did well to pull a win out of the bag helped in the end by a bit of luck. In analysing the match, the conditions should be considered. Heavy showers beforehand and at times during the match made it tricky.
Great to win back to back Leinsters at minor.
It's being well highlighted here that it's the gap from 17-20 where we have struggled badly.Alot of players just drift away.i think the cork team that won last night wasn't a great minor team and don't forget they had a few players not available because involved with the senior.
Cork had a dreadful underage record and did a full root and branch a number of years ago and are now benefiting from that.
Thankfully we have also reacted and will hopefully have better s&c facilities but what is happening to the 17-20 year and beyond?
We set the tempo all them years ago at underage when alot of counties copied our template.We probably need to be doing more now
Cork are definitely going in the right directiopn but for me, too much hype. I feel the brand of hurling they play is attractive and "sexy" and this is feeding in to the narrative.
I'd take Galway 18-21 year old crop ahead of theirs any day. It is actually isnulting to Galway in particaular how much hype there currently is about Cork. For me at least, Galway (and to a lesser extent Kilkenny) are producing better all round traditional type hurlers. Ultimately Cork might win the long game, especially if Hurling continues to evolve as a hybrid Lacrosse, but I have my doubts.
They beat a Dublin team that nver really performed on day by 4 pts in 2020 U20 Final. And tonight beat a Limerick team by 2pts that we beat by 16 pts as minors.
Well done to all involved.Two leinsters in a few weeks at this level is nothing to be sniffed at.I was very worried about lack of pace after the Offaly match and tonight it was exposed again at times.i agree we made really hard work of it tonight and were hanging on at the end.I like the look if hughes full back.
Cork with a munster u20 win tonight to add to all Ireland and despite a few lads not available because on the senior panel.
Cork have really got things together underage and could dominate underage for a few years.We could do with going down to see what have they done
Kilkenny wont be winning any All Ireland with them backs. Wexford opened them up every time they went forward. Kilkenny had much better players than both Offaly and Wexford but could have lost both matches. They got away with it tonight due to a great save and poor finishing by Wexford
We were lucky in the end to get a win considering all the goal chances Wexford had. Nevertheless a win is a win and great to see them not panic when WX got the second goal and to see them tough it out like that, that's a great experience for them. Also I thought we were a better hurling team with the better individuals and will be more likely to put it up to Galway.
Yes on the weekend of the 14-15th. With the Munster Final being a de facto AI SF
