Kilkenny GAA Thread

I would imagine there will be an emphasis on physicality,but since that is lacking, maybe something like this:

E Murphy

M Butler
H Lawlor
T Walsh

F Mackessy
R Reid
S Murphy

P Deegan
C Kenny

M Keoghan
J Donnelly
B Ryan

G Dunne
TJ Reid
H Shine

Wexford would have to beat Limerick as well in order for the points difference to come into play and not the head to head so, realistically, Kilkenny are safe!

When I have challenged the general (and I would argue lazy) assumption that Limerick just ended up with a golden one-off crop and when they move away, Limerick will be back to where they were pre 2018, I was mostly rebuffed.

Here we are 2 years later,and Limerick have developed 7 or 8 players that won nothing at underage and were well beaten by both Kilkenny and Galway at minor (neither of whom have yet mined a serious IC player from that same age group)

Keep telling yourselves Limerick are just lucky, and Kilkenny (and Galway) are clueless. Neither is true.

Limerick (same as Dublin infootball) are operating on a different level to the rest and unless and until the GAA move to bring in some form of equalisation in IC funding (for me a max and min funding per year would be the most equitable) that already wide gap is going to widen to a chasm that will make it next to impossible for any small county (even one with serious talent) to win national titles at senior.

Small counties have always won far less due to population but could compete. Now? Not a hope.

Take Kilkenny out of the equation and not a single county outside the top 20 most populous has even appeared in an AI final in either code since Offaly in 2000 hurling final.

The GAA IC model can only survive in the modern era with some rules based on IC funding.

None of the above should be taken that I think what we saw yesterday is acceptable for Kilkenny, it isn’t, but we must realise we are fighting a much steeper gradient than we have had at any time in our hurling history. Having lots of good hurlers is now just a small part of the picture where once it was by far the most important factor.

The crop of Limerick hurlers mentioned above were behind their equivalents in Kilkenny as minors, what has happened with them in Limerick in the 4/5 years since is the crucial difference, but assuming we (or Galway or any other county bar maybe Cork) can easily replicate that savage level of development of 18-22 y/o is misplaced. It is now desperately difficult, especially for a small county.

Probably wont be too far off that. Not sure what is wrong with Eoin Cody but Adrian Mullen some weeks away i think.

Dont think Drennan will get another chance. Shine should probably have started v Tipp and Owen Wall should definitely have been introduced. He is one of the only forwards we have with real pace. Id say Marty Murphy is probably a week or 2 away aswell. Not sure if he will get a chance as he has been out for the last month or more.

If we get all our men back and they are bulling for it we wont be too far away from Limerick/Cork but we have to be willing to put our necks on the line. Sadly that hasnt been evident so far in the league.

2 scorers from play, not 3.

Just looking back at the two Tipp goals, Tommy Walsh caught horribly for both. Is there a reason he keeps bringing in Shane Murphy who looks good then seems to drop him for no reason?

I think he just needs to start Murphy next week and leave him in for the year.

No fan club here just don't have time for posters constantly piling in on the same players ad nauseum . Yesterday Paddy Deegan was probably our best Player, Gearoid O'Connor subbed off scoreless and Deegan as always gave everything. Mikey Butler slowly returning to his best form and did well again . Richie Reid had more possessions in the second half than many of the players that Started and along with Shane Murphy and John Donnelly improved things no end. You don't just change for the sake of it. Shane Murphy, Jordan Molloy and a fit Stephen Donnelly and Harry Shine are the only ones for me that will push the established lads for a starting place come championship.

Definately not. 🇮🇱 israel needs our support now more than ever. You used the term 'Israelites' which refers to Jews. That's antisemitism. Alot of that in Ireland.

In an ideal world we'd have replacements, the problem is that very few of the new players coming in have made an impression. Moylan struggled yesterday, Mcdonald might not have even been on the pitch in the 1st half so little did he do, Richie Reid did a hell of a lot more in midfield in the 2nd half, Richie works fine as a sweeper or a midfielder but not as a centre back where he kept getting placed the last few years.

Upfront Drennan, Shine, Dunne and Stephen Donnelly haven't done a huge amount in their starts this season. Drennan seems to have regressed since two years ago, Shine hasn't done much in any of his appearances that I've seen him in. Dunne got 1-1 yesterday but was well held outside of that and S Donnelly has shown brief flashes of potential but only flashes.

Not I'm not saying that there shouldn't be changes, Tommy Walsh was burnt badly yesterday and Murphy or Moylan should have the number four for the championship. But we can't get rid of the likes of Deegan or Reid yet because their replacements quite simply aren't there yet.

Look i know what you are saying but i am just going off big days the last 5/6 years in Croke Park. This team has probably declined the last 5 years with players getting older, some players retiring and no young player coming through. The Corks, Limericks and Tipperary's are getting stronger and stronger and by the looks of it we are declining. If we keep the same team and players we are going to get the same results and worse for a long time to come.

I was in Thurles that morning we were in the country end terrace with four buddies and probably two other KK people. I was delighted with the win especially with a Boro man captain. And what’s more I was in Tullamore for that epic match against Galway and I was in Carlow where we were lucky to get a win against Wexford, were you in doubt I wasn’t there? The previous two years were a disaster. You seem to forget my friend anytime a KK team is playing I’ll more than lightly will be there even the underage challenge matches where I try to give the posters here a small report where possible. Do not question my commitment to KK.

Thanks for that Village.

I personally think Derek Lyng isn’t up to the job first two years were an absolute waste no improvements, no plan, hardly any replacement in personnel. And then given a third year. Based on what? Now I blame the CB not Lyng. The county board never considered putting up the job, and took the lazy way and cheap option. Someone told me the other day that a former bigwig in the county board was complaining that Mick Fennelly has the CB drained of cash. I think that can only be good we are living in the past for the last twenty years. We have to move on starting with a major overhaul of the CB we need to put new structures in place and start moving forward.

No doubt you would be a sacking CEO. Kilkenny did remarkably well in Lyngs first two years . Beaten in '22 by a generational Limerick team when bench strength or lack thereof swung the game in their favour. Similarly last year against subsequent All Ireland champions Clare. I am going to KK games for close on 60 years through thick and thin and the lowest point for me was the booing of a KK player related to the manager when subbed in a league semi final in the park around '97. Ironically we had lost I think the previous week to Clare in the AI semi final. They of course went on to beat Tipp in that final. At the moment a few other counties have greater strength in the under 23 age group than us. That is leaving us that bit short and I am confident from the 18 years age group down we are starting to climb the ladder again. That's the way it has always been. You might not like hearing this, but patience is required.

Pity with brookville he was a great poster here.

Not many looking foward to the match Saturday. Hard to belive how poor kk were Sunday. The worst I've seen in a long time. We can say heavy training etc but all teams are training hard. We haven't a clue what to do with puckouts and just passing it around the back with no purpose. I still think herity had a huge amount to offer kk and the county board is the ones I'd blame for that. Eddie brennan and Tom mullaly would bring much more to the table instead of Peter o Donovan and decky wall in my opinion. As others have said other teams aren't that far ahead of kk underage but they improve when they go into the senior set up. The level of coaching at senior level is below other top counties and this is very noticeable but the players have to take some responsibility last Sunday. No one tracking runners which is basic. Morgan dunted scruff in the head after the goal and no one touched him. I accept tipp have a huge amount of work done and had a few bad years and this won't be remembered if we beat galway In a few weeks but cahill picked out a few players he wanted last September and put them on individual plans. In my opinion kk desperately needed to find a corner back,center back,Midfielder and one or two fowards but we are no further advanced with the league just over. I know he has being unlucky with injuries but every team has injuries.

Molloy got two yellows I think so he will be able play. Donnelly,huw and cody probably be back. Billy drennan needs to go back to the club and get back on the horse. Mcdonald,doyle and dunne have all struggled. Stephen donnely hopefully can get a run in the championship. Harry shine I'd persist with at least he is doing it at club level unlike doyle and drennan who have being poor at junior level.

I know it's back to the same old but I'd go with for sat

Scruff,butler,lawlor,Murphy,zac,mackessy,Deegan,Reid,molloy,mossy,Kenny,donnelly,cody,tj,ryan