Did it result in a score to Cork by that decision?
It's a hurling thread, conversations on this page have gone down far weirder rabbit holes than the last couple of days.
Our placed ball accuracy against Clare was down to 55% from 86% and 100% in 2023 and 2022. The person who said TJ's missed frees gave Clare momentum may well be be right
Aave been saying for a long time the way to best limerick is the long ball.we beat them in 19 with tj, wally and Donnelly on the half and Colin inside.trying to beat them at their own game doesn't work, also on the throwing something needs to be done, has gotten totally out of hand
Do we just call a spade a spade and say that the Kilkenny support which experienced the best generation of hurlers ever which won 11 all irelands in 15 years don't particularly connect with this team which is good enough to get to Finals and semi finals, has some very talented players and will fight to the end, but will ultimately be beaten by one of the top 3 teams in the country if they play to their normal level. Its really unfair on the players, I suspect that their comments on not being respected are really aimed at the internal mood in Kilkenny rather than the national media, but its just how people feel. Seems to be a really negative vibe around Kilkenny hurling at the moment for various reasons
According to your own Donal Og tonight Gillane was also wrongly penalised for a throw so there's 1 anyway.
There's a whole lot of doom and gloom after yesterday. Immediately after the match I felt the same and was tempted to go off on a rant here, but I thought I'd hold my tongue and try to come back with more sense today after rewatching.
I'm not going to get into talk about support or county board stuff now, it's been talked about by plenty here and I'd have nothing to add. I'm just going to give my two cents on what went wrong and what I think of certain players for the future.
On the actual team, Eoin Murphy made the save of the year, and he's again cemented himself as the best shot stopper we've ever seen. His puckouts in the first half showed a huge improvement from where he was at the start of the year and they were a great launchpad. However, we all know what happened in the second half, the accuracy dipped and the introduction of Wally saw long balls being rained down on him. At this stage, McInerney was the best player on the pitch and the other Clare players converged on him, it was obvious to everyone what was going to happen and we played right into the trap.
One poster here defended Wally's catching ability and there's no doubt that he can catch a ball, but he kind of depends on his height, he doesn't have the same tricks as a TJ or a JJ and as a result his catch rate is lower than we would want from a lad his size. He has been a great servant to Kilkenny over the years, but Kilkenny become too predictable when he's on the pitch.
Of the backs, it's been well documented that Tommy Walsh has had his struggles this year. The ball going into Galvin in the second half kept sticking and Tommy's confidence dropped every time he lost a duel. Finding a new corner back should be a priority.
For the other backs, I don't envy any of them trying to mark Shane O Donnell, one of the best forwards in the country and his awkward style just works so well. Huw Lawlor was getting dragged all over the place and at that stage we need to be dropping Paddy Deegan or Richie Reid in front of SOD to reduce the space.
David blanchfield was brilliant in the first half and a great fielder of the ball. As with most of the backs he went out of it in the second half and started launching ball in the air, no good for the forwards. The two Mikey's have had mixed years, Carey will have nightmares about the goal chance but he's an exciting player to have with his pace and strength as he runs onto a ball.
Richie Reid has a lovely strike of the ball and given space can pick out a man. Is that what Kilkenny need in an all Ireland semi final that's in the melting pot? I don't think so. I think David blanchfield is the future at centre back and then we need to find a new half back. I'd like to think Shane Murphy is an option, but Lyng just seemed to go off him completely.
Cian Kenny and Paddy Deegan had strong first halves, although Fitzgerald got a few scores to keep Clare in the game as paddy drifted off. I like this combination in midfield and wouldn't really have an issue with it. Molloy coming off the bench for a bit of energy in the second half then when either tires.
Now we get to the forwards. It's hard to have much positivity about the forwards. The forwards weren't helped by the quality of ball coming during the second half but they have to do better.
Adrian Mullen, I'd always argue he's a top 5 hurler in the country, which makes you wonder what the hell happened him yesterday. He was getting hooked and blocked and after Kenny's shot he should have just taken the point but went for glory. We've seen that selfish streak numerous times this year and it needs to be gotten rid of. Does anyone know if he was injured, I heard lads mention it on the train yesterday but thought it was just excuses?
John Donnelly hasn't been himself since he got injured, which obviously makes sense. He came into it more in the second half and stood up with a few points but we could have done with him for 70 minutes. He's a fantastic, wristy hurler and hopefully he comes back stronger next year.
Mossy has had a great year, sticking over points from all angles in some games. But the last two games, he's also had a dip. He was left in for too long yesterday when a change, a spark, was needed. I'd persevere with him, because of his eye for goal but it has been a trend where he's tailed off in the second half of the championship (happy to be corrected on that, I don't have the stats).
Hogan had Eoin Cody (other than the goal) and the referee in his pocket all game and it's the second time this year that he's got the best of Cody. At some stage, earlier than the 60th minute, lyng surely has to think about bringing him out to the middle of the park to pick up ball and give him space and let someone else in on Hogan to have a go.
TJ battled like the warrior he is yesterday. Yes, he showed signs of age. Yes, he missed frees that we needed. But by god, he worked his socks off. Without a doubt, the goat of the game. A Messi of hurling. We may never see a player like that again. If he retires, we'll need a free taker. I don't know if Billy Drennan is the answer. He needs to find some form to show us that he's not just a dead ball specialist.
The last person I want to talk about is Billy Ryan. I feel like I owe him an apology to his face because I had said so many times that I felt his Kilkenny days were behind him. Since his introduction in the Dublin game, where I fully believe that he helped to swing that game with his workrate, to yesterday, he has been one of our most consistent players. It's not always reflected on the scoreboard with Billy, but you can bet the players on the other team are well aware of his presence. 1-2 yesterday as well as winning frees and working his socks off. If we had won I'd have given him man of the match. To see our top scoring forward from play being replaced by a defensive midfielder when the game was in the melting pot just seemed like a crazy decision.
Lyng and his team made mistakes yesterday. We're still only in his second year, but that means next year is the big one. If we get to an all Ireland final and lose, it'll be terrible, but what would be worse is if we lose the final and it's obvious that no lessons were learned from yesterday.
Best of luck to any of the lads who retire, any player that gives the commitment to the county deserves to be applauded. It's a full time job on top of full time jobs these days.
Looking forward to turning to the real hurling of the club League and championship and seeing if any players can be unearthed.
Lads did some of ye get lost? This is the Kilkenny GAA thread.
Lazy response. Tell me which decisions went Corks way?
Ref had a good game on the whole and played his part in a brilliant contest, in fairness if you picked with a fine tooth comb I'm sure 1 or 2 calls went your way too.
This is why I wouldn’t have minded Limericks drive for five to keep going. This will only be Cork’s 3rd AI final since ‘06. Pipe down.
The disallowed goal and the free Limerick got after Twomney was blown for what the ref thought was a throw ball when it wasn't.
Not sure who this is directed at?
No Kilkenny supporter has claimed that Clare won the game by virtue of any refereeing decisions or indeed anything other than the fact they were better.. We have universally said that our forwards didn't perform and that is the reason we were beaten..
I know it makes no sense (even less so now obviously), but I still reckon it was a thing possibly.
Lads the simple fact is, Kilkenny scored 10 points from play v Clare (excluding goals) and Cork scored 23 points from play today v Limerick (again, excluding goals). It's not referee decisions, throw balls etc that cost Kilkenny, it's not taking the scores on offer.
ye it’s hard to know just throwing it out there for a reaction, but I don’t think Lyng brought on enough young lads? I think the minor would be ideal for Henry to renter the fold. Mark Alyward seemed to have been popular with the U 19 squad as was Gorta.
What 2 decisions?
Well they were well out of sight only for the ref making a howler with two terrible decisions.
The 2 winners did in 2022&23, wouldn't have taken much for both results to have been different this weekend, ye left so much behind ye between wides and missed goal chances, Cork were hanging on for dear life in the last 5-10 mins today.
the two losers had the 4 week break
I dont know why people respond to him or Peggy..,,. why would you?
Surprised how active the KK forum is here. I remember on the Hoganstand forum years ago, KK had one poster. Their county forum was a ghost town. Yet here, it's extremly active. Why was that?
I wouldn’t be replacing the senior management anyway there only there a wet week
All the senior teams that are struggling right now have all changed managers a lot more frequently the last few years Dublin Wexford tipp Waterford
Stability is what’s needed at senior level maybe switch up selectors or a different hurling coach but lyng should be kept
Regards targets for teams all 3 would have targeted Leinster and all Irelands
Seniors got to 2/3 national finals winning one and could have easily been in another senior final
U20s last in Leinster semi final by 2 missed a pen easy free in front of posts and hit the crossbar in second half minors 2/2 national finals winning 1 and driving 22 wides in the other it was freak game for me
I don’t think there’s a lot wrong with kk gaa at the moment there’s a lot of good people doing great work in schools and clubs up and down the county
There’s a lot wrong with how the county board are operating alright that’s where the problem is and that’s how management are selected spending money the right way or even spending money at all
There starting to make changes with Michael Fennelly involved etc but I don’t think you see the benefit of what’s been done for a few years until the next cycle of underage players
I’m not sure who would be best for minor and u 20 jobs
I would rule out Henry as I’m not completely convinced on his managerial ability just yet also he needs a break
Nobody respond to that nonsense
Cork going Codyball? Give over. Cork play an elegant brand of hurling. Wouldn't be caught dead lowering themselves to the aesthetics of the dogmatic stuff KK and Limerick come out with. Flair, silky wristy hurling, and movement and running, they play beautiful stuff. An elegance I'm not sure KK or Limerick would be capable of playing, even if they tried
Other than the U19 competition this year which was contested by 4 teams what is Mark Aylwards pedigree to get the KK U20 job?
Really enjoyed that Cork Limerick game today. Limerick were great champions but it's always nice to see the champions toppled.
Just a couple of observations. The ball throwing was off the charts today .. was great to see the ref blowing for it. He got 2/3 correct. Missed 100+ I reckon... Referees reluctant to blow for it in case they are wrong. Mossy yesterday was frustrating for example .... I really hope there is a rule change to remove the single hand handpass and only permit s handpass from off the hurl for the league next year... Although the unintended consequence here might be removing fielding/catching because if a lad gets bottled up, what's the way out?
Also, how ironic is it that both Limerick and Cork today went pretty much full on Codyball? Maybe he wasn't as much of a dinosaur after all?
In their respective runs, Limerick lost 3 matches and drew 3, Kilkenny lost one and drew none.
Kilkenny also had to play a good Galway team in two quarter finals. Limerick went straight to semis each year.
Kilkenny frequently had players of the quality of Richie Hogan, R Power and TJ to draw on as subs!
Kilkenny had to contend with a great Tipp team that would wipe the floor with Cork of today in terms of hurling.
And Kilkenny went on nto win 4 of the next five after losing the five in a row.
Come back in 4/5 years time if Lim have won another 3/4, but any claim of supremacy over Cody's 06-15 just doesnt hold up as yet.
The swagger of cork forwards v kilkenny is miles apart
On a normal day a fully fit Mullen could have scored 1-2 so could m Carey
Not sure whether it’s fitness or concentration that we keep drifting out of games and not killing teams off it was happening in codys last few years with m Comerford and Dempsey involved
C Phelan was also involved in Cody’s last few years also
Our panel looked a bit stale yesterday the same old faces I think lyng kept on some of the older heads to give himself a bit of a foot hold in the job and experience around the place
I would imagine he expected more of his 20s panel to be on match panels and starting by now but nun have made the break through so he went with the older brigade
The panel will evolve lads will step away and hopefully that will allow some of the younger players to flourish and freshen up the panel it’s a young man’s game now
If the likes of Tj step away it means others will need to step up and take on more responsibility Mullen Donnelly Cody etc
E Cody definetly needs to spend a few games in the half forward line next year he seems to bottled up to much inside
We definitely need 2 backs a midfielder and a few forwards
Regards the coaching I think that comes from county board from underage up
The problem is we’re so married to the one style of play and way of doing things from the whole Cody era unless there is a county board clear out there is no fresh thinking they do what they ve always done because that’s what worked in the past
Like I don’t think we ll ever see a coaching ticket or manager from outside kk manage a kk county team
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