Kilkenny GAA Thread

Massive work rate off the ball, tracking players, don’t think he caught a whole lot in the Leinster final

There's a real 2006 feel to this game!

Really looking forward to the game now. I think we can bring a performance and we have a good chance of winning.

Listening to a lot of pundits they're all referencing Limericks performances in the last two All Irelands which have been stunning and all the pundits reckon they can produce that kind of performance tomorrow. Lets be honest if they do we'll be happy if we're within 5 points of them at the end. There's one major difference I feel between those games and tomorrows game. Cian Lynch is not playing. I think I'm right in saying he scored 0-6 last year and setup 2-05. This is an enormous direct contribution let alone the players he occupies and the space he can then create for his team mates to flourish. I know they've got here without him but no one can claim they have been as impressive as they were the last few years in the matches so far.

I do think Limerick will be better than the semi but I don't think it will be to the level they produced the last two years (hopefully). Another big difference to what they faced the last two years are teams which won't bring the intensity and physicality that we're used to in Leinster hurling. The Munster crowd look down their noise at Leinster hurling but there's no doubting it's a tighter and I think tougher game than Munster games which are more open. I think I heard the stat that we have scored 1-19 on turnovers in 5 games compared to Limericks 0-12 in 6 games this year. This usually comes due to huge work rate in the middle third which we bring every day. Limerick do too but I don't think they face it much. Clare tried it this year in the Munster final and nearly succeeded but ran out of gas in the end and we may too but I think we're in better shape than we have been for the last few years.

The fact the the Limerick backs by and large sit back and hold their positions and don't follow their man should hopefully play into Mullen and TJ's hands as they drift into pockets of space in the middle third.

I think it will be an absolute cracker, hopefully Cody will be forced to use our subs earlier than usual due to the heat we'll see tomorrow and this will allow lads get into the game a bit more when they come on. If we don't have 4 subs on with 20 to go I'll be worried.

If all the rumours swirling around Limerick don't have some effect or if even a few or true it's been a less than perfect run in for Limerick. 4 players were supposed to have had Covid, I assume they had to isolate for a good few days at least away from the rest of the squad. Lynch doing his ankle last weekend. Gillane and Nash are supposed to be carrying knocks, not that it will stop them playing just another distraction. There's been other rumours to which are even more out there. Meanwhile Kilkenny has been quiet as a mouse.

Hoping for a Kilkenny victory 3-5 points.

I feel it’s Limericks to lose. If both teams play to their potential, I see a win for them by 4-5 points but nothing to feel down about.

What I don’t want to see is anyone going off injured early, no stupid red cards, no controversy over a point, nothing that will drag the result into a debate for the next 12 months. I think Kilkenny will give it everything from the first to the last minute, as will Limerick.

I think Kilkenny are the best team placed team in the country to give Limerick their sternest test yet in an AI final and with a bit of luck we could do it.

Is

Is that just as a manager? He won a few as a player too..genuine question I'm not stirring..just curious

If as a manager he is currently ahead of limerick would that mean he is only behind the so called big three? Some pub quiz question if so

Ya that's 11 as manager.

Obviously as manager is kinda new in hurling I think Kiely is next with 3

Sad thing is we are way ahead of the chasing pack now.

Fair play.... Limerick had a lot of tough times over the years so nobody could begrudge their success in recent times. I'm a huge admirer of this Limerick team and they won't be easily beaten tomorrow. Just hoping we can edge it by one or two points.

best of luck tomorrow lads , would have vastly preferred if it was us but them the breaks, think we have a few more years to go before we really make another challenge

that really good kilkenny team from the minors of 2018 is starting to show its hand now too ,

Here’s hoping,we’ll still be proud of all our men tomorrow regardless.Best of luck.

What changes did you hear?