Kilkenny GAA Thread

Are we safe from relegation?

Wex and clare can only get to 4 points? Do we stay safe on head to head then?

I thought it was a night for zach with his pace. Killian doyle isnt ready,defensively we arent too bad. Its up the field that's where the problem lies..5 points from play in 40 minutes won't win you big games. If cian Kenny could maintain his form at 11 he would be a big help especially when John and Adrian come back. The big fallout from games is alarming

I would imagine Kilkenny safe enough regarding relegation no matter what.

Clare would have to beat , Cork, Tipp and Limerick and Kilkenny lose to both Tipp and Limerick. So more or less guaranteed safety. Kilkenny and Tipp will be a cracker next week, both teams need to win to make league final

Whats really disappointing is that two of our best prospects from underage are not going to make it as senior players - Shine and Drennan. Shine reminds me of Kevin Kelly, bit of an underage reputation but didn't make it at senior. We really need to find a forward with a bit of sparkle, nothing would excite you in that Kilkenny forward line. Is there anything coming through at underage to give us a bit of hope we might finish off the decade with an All Ireland?

Happy enough with today's and the Wexford performance. Coordination is improving with the consistent team. Cian Kenny very impressive again- real class for over 12 months. Jordan Molloy also class and good tonight. Stephen Donnelly is good in the corner and will hopefully improve with game time. Padraic Moylan did very well when he came on. Would like to see his DCU teammate Paddy Langton get a run. We need to persevere with the skillful lightweight corner forwards (Harry Shine & Billy Drennan); they need time for S&C to reach their potential. Keep their confidence up and give them time; it may take another 2 years. But let's not lose patience. Same with Killian Doyle who showed some nice touches. I think all three can play at the level Cian Kenny is showing now; have the skill but lack the S&C si getting horsed out of it. In my opinion, skill will ultimately win out. We missed out 2022-2024 in quality league games v Limerick, Tipp and Galway. Kilkenny started to peak for the Leinster Final 2022-2024 and I wont worry about wides like today in the interim. We did not fade imotoday as some have said and I liked how we disrupted both Wexford (a first) and Cork backs when we played our hunt in packs game admittedly for just the firdt half. Lastly, hoping that Adrian Mullen is not disheartened by all the injuries first to his brother Daragh and now himself. He is a great player and we need him at his best. Also hoping John Donnelly is able to recover from his thumb surgery; he was fantastic last year prior to the Wexford game; thumbs and fingers are critical in accurate shooting; hopefully, his feel from the thumb is restored early.

A lot to like from that performance.

Solid defensive spine.

Improved pattern of play.

Jordon Molloy was very good.

Cian Kenny was very good.

Lots of selfless play from Cody.

S.Donnelly looked sharp.

Get a fit Mullen, Donnelly, TJ back in there and we have a first 15 to rival anybody..

Negatives is our accuracy from long range, particularly Blanch. Not much impact from the bench although Moylan was good.

Ref did us no favours tonight. But for a few gifts to Cork + our wastefulness from long range, we were the better team over the 70.

You are a great fan of the Walsh’s…. While pretending to be from Mullinavat.

22,193 atrended the match tonight, I would say we struggled to make up the 193. Surely that was worth rhree points to the rebels. Pat Ryan deserves great respect for being there.

Savage crowd for a Saturday evening although the conditions were perfect for going to a game.

Can’t have been easy for Pat Ryan as you say so fair play to him.

Our backs did fine again. Michael Carey developing into a solid 6,Paddy very good at 7 and Blanch just needs to keep it simple. Huw brilliant and his loss is frightening. Padraig Moylan did well so a couple of starts should give him a real chance to make it. Jordan molloy should never have been hooked in Ennis and looks the part midfield. Doyle had a very good first half but messed up too much in the second.Cian Kenny was our MOTM by a distance. I think everyone on here has been in his camp and Lawlor apart he has been our most consistent for the last couple of years. The other forwards were well held. Stephen Donnelly again looked a good one but for the constant injuries. What a chap for sticking at it.we are never going to beat the Corks Limericks ,etc with so little ball winning ability and pace upfront. I honestly don't know who else we can look to for it? Saying that there was no lack of effort on anyones part and John Donnelly, Mullan, Phelan and TJ will make a huge difference, just nothing new.

Why is it that our forwards can't get any separation between themselves and the back thats marking them?

People forget how big and strong in the air both Gillane and Flanagan actually are.

For inside men they are both big.

Gillane especially can win any ball that comes into him.

You'd need to see the footage from behind the goal to get a true picture but I reckon the movement off the ball is average at best. You don't need to be lightning fast if you can move a defender one way and then go another. Body position against the defender before the ball comes in is also important - see when Mellerick nipped in ahead of Shine in the first half last night as Shine tried to let the ball run past him.

I'd say most of our forwards are half forwards and not suited to playing inside. That tells by what happens off the ball

Unfortunately Harry Shine and Billy Drennan are too slow for inside and not great in the air. Gillane is incredible in the air and can win any ball that goes in. Shine has had a load of ball his way last 2 matches but is not good enough in the air or fast enough around space to get away. I have seen comments about Eoin Cody not being fast enough, then Shine and Drennan have no chance. Any sign of Marty Murphy, he has been a stand out under age and is a huge man and would have more hurling that a Brian Hayes type. We are running out of options.

Over the last few years Kilkenny can match it with anyone for 55 minutes but after this we fall off a cliff. Be it lack of pace or energy levels/workrate drop as Kilkenny do work harder than anyone and we have little or no impact off the bench. We really need to plan for the last 15 minutes in these matches or else we will get the same results.