.........
wrong place....
My championship 15 would be:
I know it’s unlikely that Adrian will be put at centre back at this stage of the year but I think he’s the best solution to it. His distribution is excellent, he’s good in the air, he can physically dominate, take scores from long range and it’s never any harm to have your best player on the ball as often as possible.
Whilst Darragh Corcoran’s lack of agility was shown up a couple of times against Clare last Sunday, I thought he won a couple of dirty balls and showed up well physically. His size and physicality should make it tougher for teams to play through us (a la Will O’Donogue for Limerick). He should be able to grow into midfield if he’s given more time there.
Cian Kenny would complement Corcoran well with his class and skill. Although he may not be the best option in midfield if we met Limerick at some stage this year as he tends to get overpowered and doesn’t have the pace to get away from them nor does he get the usual frees for high challenges that he does against other teams.
Conor Heary was O’Loughlins go to man for puckouts. If you have Mikey C playing the David Fogarty role of running onto his knockdowns or passes, we could create a few scores this way.
In terms of goal scoring, our best goal scorer is Mossie and it’s because he’s willing to take the punishment that few others will and has the explosiveness to cause full back lines trouble.
TJ should be given the roaming role. I wouldn’t rule out having him as a super sub if Father Time has finally caught up with him. Billy Drennan would be the player I’d start instead. Clinical from frees and could be used as a target man in FF line. Eoin Cody can take the roaming role then.
Murphy is be best goalkeeper in the game. Probably ever.
Talk about dropping him is utter lunacy.
Most of the failures associated with his distribution lie with the sideline and indeed the other 14 players.
Pity Brennan didn't get more game time. For that reason I'd stick with Murphy. I'd play Corcoran at midfield and Kenny in the forwards, thus omitting L Blanchfield.
At least we're talking 15 aside instead of 7 aside! As you hinted in a later post, if posters wish to drop one of your pick, let them suggest an alternative.
Your preferred team?
Injury wise I've no idea, just saying when he going to probably miss all of the League He will need plenty of gametime to get back up to the pace of things.
What is wrong with Phelan ?
So far Liam Blanchfield has not shown any form to be considered as a starter for sure....I obviously would love if he came in to form from now on in, even if he got some game time this weekend be interesting, Tom Phelan could do with all the exposure possible in Leinster champinship this year to get anywhere near the levels of last year.
Putting my head on the block, I would go with the following team in the championship.
Darren Brennan, not as good shot stopper but better distribution
Butler, Lawlor, Walsh.
Carey, Davy Blanch, Shane Murphy.
Deegan, Kenny.
Mullen, TJ. , Donnelly
Keoghan, Liam Blanch, Cody.
Tom Phelan, Wally not considered
I see the Leinster GAA website is offering the minor and U20 league and championship for €40 which is a steal, I’d say at least 10 games at least 4 to be home games. So they can’t be any complaints. Get out and support the future so ye might know what to talk about in the future.
20 euro is dirt cheap for 70mins entertainment. It's scandalously cheap. You wouldn't get into am underage game here in the UK for that. People are finding it a struggle economically but some people are also 'tight' . Its a bad look.
I'd be inclined to go for a midfield of Deegan and Kenny. I think Deegan with his workrate, hard running and his tendancy to shoot from long range without the need for man marking is suited to the midfield. Kenny is probably our best player at linking up play for a running game, I don't see why Lyng is trying to turn him into a corner forward, it's not really his game. Mullen can start in the forwards and drift out into midfield when required but I wouldn't start him in midfield.
It is disappointing that none of Clifford, Dunne, Drennan and Shine have kicked on to look like become a regular yet but there's still plenty of time for that to happen in the next few years. I was surprised Drennan didn't get off the bench on Sunday, so far he's been the best of the new forwards.
Looking ahead to championship . To me the full back line appears to be the only line set in stone. Then there are 7or 8 possibilities for half back line and midfield..I personally would have deegan in the forwards..with the amount movement and rucks in the game now he will be still back helping out but won't have direct responsibility for any 1 particular forward. I would love to keep mullen in the forwards too but I don't think we have 2 better midfielders than him..possibly Carey can slot in there if his touch improves as the year goes on but as others said he might make a 6.
It's a bit disappointing that there seems to be only Carey and Shane Walsh that seem to be in contention to break onto the team we finished with last year.for me the young lads who have played some games in the forwards haven't done enough yet. It's only march I suppose.
Anyway apologies for the rambling and I'm off to try pick horses for the work Cheltenham sweepstakes
I'm a 45 year old Irish man..I hug my children and occasionally my wife😀 and that's it..its all good though .I don't like to fall out with anyone in Real life or on here.
Whatever the support for Kilkenny in Waterford next Saturday may be, it'll be a lot less now with St Kierans playing their final at 1pm in Croke Park. I for one would have liked to attend both.
Hug it out lads . 😃
Im a long time follower , rarely have any input , as i wouldnt have the knowledge that others do, but i enjoy reading other posters take on games/players etc.
Keep it up lads as its probably the best county forum in the threads , lots of posts (not just when the county plays) and plenty club stuff also .. 👏
Ticket prices are the big problem as shown with poor attendances in general, €20 for national league is scandalous in my opinion, not so long ago they were only 12, more games on now than ever before it must be remembered so people more likely to pick and choose, between ticket prices, cashless turnstiles and that horrendous Ticketmaster website I do wonder at times are people in high positions in Croke Park trying to alienate people.
Fair enough.
To be honest it wasn't the message but the tone of the message that got my back up..anyway we won't go round and round..I'm.sure the vast majority on here wish the best for kilkenny teams at all grades and appreciate the huge effort put.in by the players
Well, both are coming back after surgery and need the game time. I'd say Mark Dowling would be happy enough with it.
Entirely agree with this post.
There is a point I’d like to make about two players on Sunday Harry Shine and Gearoid Dunne,was it necessary to play them when the U20 championship starts in two or three weeks time. If any of these U20 players are deemed good enough that also includes players who didn’t get a look in yet at senior level they can be introduced at the end of May which gives them ample time to blend in with the seniors assuming the training is basically the same.
Wasn’t overly worried about Sunday either, the performance wasn’t good at all but I honestly think James Owen’s destroyed the game… you just couldn’t overstate this point, it was impossible for either side to get into any kind of rhythm with the constant stop start nature of play. He’s the worst referee in the country by a long way but the laughable thing is he is so arrogant he actually thinks he’s doing a great job.
Anyway I thought Carey looked far more comfortable at centre back and hurls there for the club. I know it’s completely different levels but considering our struggles at six he’s worth a try in the position.
I wouldn’t worry about Harry Shine or indeed any of the forwards performances either as between the ref making things difficult (impossible)and Clare making it a very attritional type of game on softish ground it wasn’t a forwards day.
I understand where you're coming from and I do agree that you rarely, if ever, criticise players. You seem to give all our players due regard unlike some here who have written off practically every player bar 6 or 7. We're heading for a sevens tournament as we never hear of replacements for all those being written off.
I personally don't care about Linerick for now. We need to concentrate on Galway, Wexford and perhaps Dublin. Let the Munster teams worry about Limerick.
Exclude yourself if you want but the support is very poor, people do be talking about Clare been too far and Cork and Limerick but Dublin is never too far come all Ireland time when everyone feels they are entitled to tickets and nobody finds it too dear then. I am well aware some people cannot go for various reasons. The league final last year against Limerick played in Cork, we were out numbered 10 to 1. Very hard to win then when the players don’t feel worthy of our support. Do you go to many KK matches and if you do you would surely feel the same way as I do, only you know the answer to that. I just get pissed off of people giving out about our team and not bothering to attend matches.I very seldom call out individual players for criticism as I do not think it is fair on them. If it doesn’t include you don’t take offence.
With regard to the forwards, I was happy with Deegan. He scored 2 points and got on the ball and offered a threat. I was fierce disappointed he was move to midfield at half time. We could've brought on Kevin Blanchfield and left Paddy in the forwards. I could see us with Deegan, Donnelly, Phelan, Mullen, Cody and Reid as the forwards.
Wasn't overly disappointed by Sunday, we have been very up and down in the league and believe we are building up a little slower than other teams the last few years maybe because we believe we will get through Leinster. I think Wexford are building nicely and once they have Conor McDonald, Rory O Connor and Lee Chin back they will be decent this year. On the other side Dublin seem to be struggling a bit.
6 is now a bit of a worry, Richie Reid has the hurling but is to passive and allows too much down the middle, Paddy Deegan is aggressive enough and has the engine but wants to go forward. Mickey Carey covers the ground and is aggressive but bit worried about the sharpness of his hurling. Not sure what the solution is here as I wouldn't dream of moving Huw Lawlor.
Hopeful Jordan Molloy can nail a place when he is back, like the look of Shane Murphy too, he had it tough on Sunday but those days will happen. I really like Cian Kenny he is always an outlet as he always shows for the pass, he is skillful, he creates things, he takes the man on and draws frees. Feels likes we should leave him midfield and keep giving him time as he is probably waiting to be taking off at the moment.
Adrian Mullen was unlucky with shots on Sunday but he looks like he will explode this year, looks like the three Ballyhale boys and John Donnelly will be nailed on in the forwards and we are struggling to find a consistent two more forwards.
Little concerned with Tommy Walsh feels like he loses concentration a good bit and can tend to be few yards of his man a fair few times. We do have a lot to find and plenty to improve on but we are following same path as last few years, build into the year and improve as we go.
Hard to see it all just click but we need to start nailing things and persisting as opposed to the chopping and changing from here. I would like to win the weekend as it is important to get more game time and the more we play Limerick the better.
Without trying to sound like an apologist for the county board, I'm far from it. It was briefly discussed at the county board last night and about the lack of facilities and panels having to move from different location for training, from what I was led to believe it's the U20's and the minors who have been messed around and not the seniors so I don't think that is an excuse for the seniors, I don't think we look any unfitter than other teams I just think we're trying to play a style of hurling that doesn't suit the players available. The county board chairman confirmed that they are actively looking for something which would alleviate the situation but I'd imagine it'll take time and it's not going to be a quick fix.
The most disappointing aspect for me was Clare were missing 4 All Stars, lost 3 good players to injury and still won. Kilkenny were more or less at full strength.
Our younger players are not stepping up compared to other counties.
Richie Reid is targeted by opposition, they love to see him centre back, how can we keep looking at him there.
The split season has hurt Kilkenny at inter county level as we do not have the resources to train teams to the level it has gone. The bulk of hard training is done between November and March. We do not have facilities in this weather to maximise training, especially 3 teams. The good old days of big training matches in Nowlan Park from April to September are well over
jesus..... 😣
There used to be better discussions in here - now its just echo chamber sh1te from the usuals.. (used to be easier read them too!!)
