Kilkenny GAA Thread

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Did well to be in touch at half time after a poor start. Clare started very well with their touch, pace and movement causing problems. Backs got on top though as game went on. Carey great on the wing, Blanch playing well, great positional sense. Makessey has been decent too in fairness to him. You can see he's a more natural wing back. Midfield solid.

Forward line still lacks any genuine pace and lacks good movement would be the main concern. Over doing the ball sometimes working it out as well

What is up with Adrian Mullen ? Always seems to be something wrong with him last few years

Weather conditions look terrible on the player.

Blanchfield hurling well very able and Mackessy beside him having a fine game with Carey too. Makings of a strong half back line.

Not easy for the forwards on a day like today, but they seem a bit stuck to the ground but have done well overall to get back into it after a ropey start.

Need to start making some diagonal runs up front for the backs to aim at, the Clare forwards are doing it. McInerney was flying for Clare but pulled up.

Should be able to beat this Clare team in the 2d half

Without

O Donnell, Kelly, Rodger's, McCarthy, Duggan,Ryan , Conlon,Mcinerney, Hogan, Cleary, David Fitzgerald

It's more or less clares junior team. Anything other than a win would be a very poor result. Its hard to belive a county like kilkenny haven't got a consistent free taker.

Hardly most of thoose playing for Clare have been either on an off the Clare team a few years or saw action in last years league or the all Ireland

Important to win that considering how weak a team Clare had out. Given the conditions I wouldn't worry too much about how tight it was. Ennis js a very hard place to go.
Gearoid Dunne did well when he came on, he missed a few balls but showed very well. Difficult to see how Drennan can start ahead of him again. Of the newer lads, Peter McDonald did well, as did Mackessy without being overly impressive. He used the ball well and was economic with possession without being overly ambitious. Definitely worth another look.

Carey had an impressive first half, and Mossy was very good. He's a great bit of stuff. Cody was classy in patches. I'd say Lyng will be happy enough to come away with the points.

Leinster hurling is in a very poor place at the minute

Tipp and Waterford aren’t exactly pulling up trees in Munster the last while cork only recently got there act together but still haven’t won a senior all Ireland

Clare while current all Ireland champions really struggled in big games in Croke park since 2013

Limerick are the only consistent team in Munster

While wexford and Galway look to be in a rebuilding phase Offaly and Dublin should be on the up slightly

Antrim Carlow and Laois seem to rotate between good and bad years regularly

The standard might be poor in Leinster kk can only beat what’s in front of them they’ve been the most consistent in Leinster for a long time now

Mossy very good today,not a day for forwards but Drennan was dreadful,has any player got as many chances I certainly can't remember anyone, during the Cody era some very good hurlers got one or two chances and we're discarded very quickly if things didn't work out, Drennan has had three years, miles off it.

Drennan doesn't seem interested in being there at all.

That last attempt at a point was pathic, dropped well short.

Is he still college hurling or just with Galmoy?

its disappointing in fairness but very talented underage hurler , he has the quality but today was as unintense as it gets , the players were still swinging there arms trying to warm themselves with 5 minutes to go , hardly something you will see in croke park in late june , so to struggle today like that is not great ,

one thing i picked up with the subdued atmosphere is cian kenny and his leadership role , he was all over paddy deagen at times he was constantly directing traffic all day its very hard to pick that up in croke park or thurles so it was great to see it today , he had a really good game down on top of that too

another positive for kilkenny was gearoid dunne when he came on , john coneally picked him up , coneally is highly rated from our last few under 20 teams and dune was well on top in that battle he got a fine score as well, i am a big fan of peter mcdonald from his thomastown exploits he didnt disappoint either today

All about trying to find a few players today, mc donald , mackessey and the little cameo from Zak along with gearoid dunne put their hands up.unfortunately drenans lack of pace means he cant get away from his man.not fussed about the results if we can find a few players.

great to see zak there , it almost looked like his minor days were a flash , but he proved otherwise with thomastown , i reckon hes not a starter but an option late in games , there's a luke "something" from thomastown that came on today late on that showed well too i cant think of his surname , i am not gone on mackessey though , for what ye need