Kilkenny GAA Thread

Richie Hogan is just the type of knacky player that might make the difference in the Semi. Personally I think it could be a humdinger of a game. Kilkennys experience of playing in Croke Park is definitely worth a few points ,as always but Clare are a very good side. Some fascinating match ups . The middle 8 is where it ll be won and lost. Clare are very mobile around the middle but Kilkenny are solid there. 3 semi final in a row losses would surely signal the end for Brian. There's an awful lot riding on this game.

Even though I'm going up myself, I'm not a huge fan of semi finals being on, on a Saturday evening. Semis should be kept for Sundays and Sundays only.

Different times people are only surviving this weather the GAA seems to be in a shocking hurry to get things over done with you have to wonder no county matches for nearly six months.

Be nothing wrong with Thurles for this one. Much better atmosphere than half empty Croke Park

Not sure about the Saturday night thing allowing people to go out for a meal and a few drinks. If people have a two hour drive either way for example for a 7pm start (such as the Leinster final) it's probably leaving home around 4 and getting home 11pm when you allow for traffic, parking, and all associated delays.

Saturday PM is terrific for the TV viewer I can see the arguments against a Saturday night for the person attending. And bear in mind many people work on Saturdays.

I like Saturday PM games but I do see the reservations that many have and it seems to me to be practicality rather than tradition.

time has to be up at the end of this year. He was nearly back, was on the bench for one of the games and was injured again. Can’t catch a break. Would be great to see him back for a game but be surprised if he’s not seriously short on speed at this age. Be a bit worried pace wise if tj, padraig and Richie were on at the same time

Could play him off the full forward and up for knockdowns when the game becomes stretched in the 2nd half. There's no way he should start the match but he'd be an option off the bench for something different.

The talk is Richie Is going well. We'll know Friday evening if his listed on the subs. I think he'll be listed on the subs but we all seen what went on against cork last year.Richie has worked fierce hard to get to where he is now.He has such good vision and awareness he could do a job floating when things open up.We probably needed the 4 week break to get a few injuries sorted and we've being good to manage these few weeks before,Clare have had a busy schedule and a few injuries.hopefully a few of our fowards found a bit of form.We need to get eoin cody more involved and a move out around the half forward line would do no harm.Our backs have done well enough to date it's 8-15 where the inconsistency has being but clares fowards will bring plenty of movement. We know we'll need a huge improvement and training must of being hot the last few weeks. Hopefully we get the match ups right.It will be a big step up for butler ìf he goes on kelly but wexford had alot of their important players curtailed. Lawlor is hugely important to us and his battle with duggan should be good.The likes of Taylor and David Fitzgerald have being going well.

This is our 3rd semi final In a row and the two previous semi finals we were in good positions to win but we imploded. This group of players need to win Saturday and make an all Ireland or else we're just not progressing.

You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine I for one might not bother next year with the Gaa because saturday matches do not suit me always a working day is gone. last sunday you had two teams in croke park there season was decided on a penalty shoot out.

I'll keep trying to go but its a struggle, first year i've missed a leinster championship game in a long time. Theres no need to have leinster and munster games on different days, there's not enough big games that they cant organise the match times for tv on the sunday or have deferred viewing like they've done before. Getting rid of the league semi and maybe adding an extra week gap might be enough of a tweak, I would prefer not to get to the league semis or final with the gap to the first championship game at the moment

Many supporters would be in agreement with you.

Funny thing is that the club games will go ahead and everyone will be content. The question of the best option will probably be a matter of personal taste rather than because it all went wrong.

The funny thing is that under the old system only four hurling counties had a game after the last week in July anyway. It's a huge change to make to the inter-county championship (and the numbers who like to attend) given the small amount of County championships that will actually benefit. Most County championships can be run off happily with no impact from the inter-County ever.

Is conor Fogarty definitely out with a broken thumb.i have heard it a few times but nothing confirmed by Kilkenny camp.

"Saturday night let’s people go out for a meal / few drinks before or after."

Thatd cost yaa the price of a holiday .........