Kilkenny GAA Thread

Any Callan people I know would tell you the only club that's damaged by the Powers moving to Windgap, is Windgap.
Think it'll be a few years before the good underage teams Callan have had will have an impact on their adult teams.

I think Emeralds will be strong at Junior this year, couple of lads back from travelling and some good younger players. Graignamanagh as well should be decent. Hard to know with Conahy but they should be one of the stronger teams as well.

A lot of doom and gloom after the last week but yesterday was a tonic! A really good performance filled with passion, hard work and skill! Having Huw back was massive and he was excellent! Butler has got criticism during the league but I think he’s been good the last 2 games and had a really good game yesterday too! Shane Murphy was brilliant again yesterday too and I think a full back line of Butler/Huw/Murphy looks really solid! When we were under pressure near the end I thought Deegan really stood up. Kenny was good again and didn’t give Lynch a moments peace! The big positive was in the forwards though, after such a small return from play, finishing with 0-21 this week was a massive return! Mossy continued his excellent form and has been our best player during the league! TJ was excellent again but all the other contributed! Donnelly and Ryan were really good and worked their socks off! Mackessy did really well and got a couple of good scores! Hogan didn’t score from play but worked his socks off and contributed! The subs also made a difference too! As Mossy said after the game we have 5 weeks of hard work before championship, hopefully we can get the injured players back and get everyone in good form for championship.

sorry Corkman here, apologies if stupid question, but have KK a u19 team? Pretty sure Cork don’t, subject to correction….

Didn’t even mention score on this morning’s sports news Ireland AM

I know the point above about training is that they got a toe in the hole after a shocking performance etc but this crazy training trend is developing in KK in recent years, at underage and beyond

Kk have a number of players in 3rd level away, so they finish training at 10, back to Dublin/Maynooth/ Limerick, doing well to be in bed by midnight.. gym sessions next day etc etc..

We often ponder why some of our younger players look leggy.. they aren’t getting the chance to recover.. training like professionals but not recovering like professionals

one kk underage team trained last friday, Saturday and sunday, prob for a combined time of 7/8 hours.. it’s just insanity

This narrative about a team "not wanting to be there" is complete nonsense. These lads don't give up their lives to play at the top level and then when they get they opportunity decide i can't be arsed, i'd prefer to be at home watching the rugby.

Limerick were probably short 6 of their starting 15 yesterday but the worry for them is that 3 of them Dan Morrissey, Byrnes and Hegarty are now 31/32. And when the Munster championship starts their starting team will probably not be very different to the 2018 team except they are all now 7 years older. The reason there's been conflicting formlines throughout the league is because ultimately there's probably not a lot between 6 teams, who with an injury free run and a bit of luck a long the way can have realistic ambitions of being there on All Ireland final day.

Personally i think Limerick are the most likely winners with Cork and ourselves in that order as the most viable alternatives.

so you’re saying the replacement free taker misses ever free

Might happen quicker than you think. Tullogher won the junior in 2023 with 5 or 6 u19s.

Hopefully emeralds and piltown can push on a bit. Graiuge have showed flashes in the past few years, plenty skilful hurlers.

Tullogher also had a great spine with great experience that were competing in around the business end of intermediate for a few years. Donnacha O’ Connor, Pat Hartley, Walter Walsh and Cian O’ Donoghue etc all fantastic hurlers that would’ve allowed those young lads to shine. So maybe not the best example.

Callan are one of those big town teams that seem to struggle bringing young lads through to their adult team. They were competitive in Roinn A underage when I was hurling, but there’s only 1/2 of those guys still active as far as I’m aware. If they can keep their young lads around they could have a chance the next couple of years, but that’s a big if.

Piltown have lacked the consistency to win a championship over the years. Certainly have the hurlers, but for whatever reason can’t get it done. 2022 was a big chance that they let slip against Blacks and Whites. Ronan Ryan is in Australia, would be a big loss if not home for championship.

Emeralds probably lacking a bit of depth to to really challenge, but a good draw could give them run at it like last year. Graig have the potential, but sometimes their own worst enemy. Both teams have good young lads, but I think it might just be a bit soon this year without a bit of luck

prick who ever you want to take the frees they’ll score at least five of yesterdays frees

Any idea of the team or who hurled well? Was marty Murphy playing? The minor and u20 is probably starting soon.its always a competitive grade,it's make or break for management who have being disappointing the last two years. The minor team is up to the age this year and you would be hoping massive lessons were learnt

a Limerick half back line with Hayes and byrnes would gobble up them long balls. Dan morrissey would stabilze the full back line. Finn and casey can probably be got at.The puckouts haven't improved and it looks like it's not really worked on. Surely they work on puckouts but it doesn't translate on match days. Going into the championship there must be a plan when it comes to puckouts

Minogue

Timmy Kelly

Ivan Bolger

Darragh Vereker

Rory Garrett

Eoghan Lyng

Cathal Hickey

Jeff Neary (played as a sweeper)

Tom McPhillips

Ed Lauhoff (played midfield)

Aaron McEvoy

Michael Brennan

Greg Kelly (played half forward)

James Hughes

Rory Glynn (excellent)

Game plan appears to be run the ball through Neary as much as possible with him running off the shoulder in the middle third. He's having to cover a lot of ground. 2 man full forward line are quite isolated so I'd say creating goal chances is going to be difficult but they were pretty good in the 1st half.

I don’t Mackessy does well coming on a sub, either start him or nothing

He tore into that match yesterday and he tore into the match down in Ennis when he started wing back v Clare.

He had a very good 55 minutes yesterday and then he tired.

He is getting there, he’s a monster of a man.

I’d still go for Blanchfield, Carey and Mackessy as the half back line for Leinster championship.

Cian Kenny looked in serious bother going off yesterday, hoping he hasn’t done the knee.