Kilkenny GAA Thread

The ref was excellent and kept Kilkenny in it the first half. being honest that Waterford team was 10 points a better team than ours. All good in the air, direct and 3 good men inside. I have no idea what Kilkenny were at. Trying to cover space in the backs. I was disappointed in our skill levels. Stop a couple of our better forwards and we are poor

Waterford a far superior team. 3 points loss flattered us, ref gave us some soft frees. Easy blame management. A big problem in Kilkenny is us talking up our young players too much. This forum was full of how great this team is last few weeks after playing in a much inferior competition in leinster. Kierans win handy schools finals and it's all over the local paper and on here how great some of their players are. Reading this forum over the last three years you would swear we had unreal hurlers coming through at under 20 level each year. We lose and it's always the managements fault. Amazing that none of these players hyped up by posters like Alonzo and Marooned have made an impact at senior. We need to stop hyping up young players, even though many of the posters on here seem to love doing it. No doubt some young players read this forum. Well done to the players and management for giving their all and hard luck tonight but we were beaten by a better team.

Not saying the players are too cocky at all. But some posters need to relax with hyping up young players.

Despite worries of going overboard, I cannot emphasise enough that this take, and those similar, are literally some of the stupidest opinions I’ve read on boards.ie.

“We’ve been left behind”

2024: Threw away a commanding lead to eventual winners. League finalists

2023: AI and league finalists

2022: AI finalists

Comparison with Manchester United, we’re now average

Even on our worst day, we’re nothing close to levels United have plummeted to. Granted we’re not at the level of the previous generation of players, but apart from the current Limerick team, nobody is. This current team is filled with players who have consistently won Leinster titles and competed in national league and All Ireland championship finals. Almost every other county would dream of challenging as well as we have these past couple of years

“Let’s not kid ourselves we are behind the Munster senior teams too”

Worst case scenario, we are behind Limerick, Cork and Clare (given their AI win last year). Laughable you’d suggest Waterford and Tip would be above us on current form / recent history.

“We would struggled to get out of Munster”

Is the competition tougher in Munster? Would it be harder to qualify than in Leinster? Yes. Struggle? Waterford have been shocking the last couple of years. Tip not too far behind them, but have managed to sort themselves out this year. They still lack consistency and proved they can’t be depended on defensively against Clare and Cork. Clare have had a disastrous year for a couple of different reasons, but again showed they’re nothing special. Kilkenny have had their measure in years previous and left the game behind them last year. Cork might have something going for them, but didn’t they get hammered by 16 points against Limerick recently? When did a defeat that big last happen to Kilkenny against anyone? Limerick have been the barometer in recent times, but again you’re comparing to one of the greatest teams ever

Maybe I’m being too defensive, but honestly the opinions in taking Kilkenny apart at times are just ridiculous

Hold on, " easy blame management " they had these player's for 3 year's. Not all on player's who are 16/17. Letting off management litley IMO. ThinK U20 performance far worse than today. Far more mature player's than today

Their is always an excuse, oh it's the leinster championship or oh it's the managements fault or oh it's the county board but never simply that the players aren't just good enough.

Hard luck to players and management.

It was a really good game of hurling the best I have been at involving a Kilkenny team this year even though we lost. It was competitive from minute one. After 10 minutes it was obvious Waterford had the upper hand. They appeared bigger stronger and like all winning teams faster than us. A real shot in the arm for Waterford and they look to have huge support from the county. Not since our great team have I seen a group dominate in the air like they did last night. First loss of the year for our boys and no chance to put it right. I seriously think the Gaa should move towards an open draw championship at all grades to level the playing field. Look at the football championship at present. We need a Jim Gavin type review of the whole hurling structure before Leinster falls further behind. Kildare winning the McDonagh is a fantastic achievement however as Dublin showed yesterday they have a long road to travel to get to McCarthy level. Open draw, please.

No sign of alonzo, or the real donster. I wonder why? 2 posters who always hype up young players. The realdonster will be the first one in with a snarky remark though to someone he doesn't agree with.

Anyway congratulations to waterford. Would love to see them win the all ireland. hard luck to the kilkenny players. Very unlucky last few minutes. Some brilliant brave defending by waterford. Keeper also made a superb save.

As someone else said, suns could have been made earlier

Kilkenny, Galway (to a lesser degree as they have minor success but fall apart after) Wexford and Dublin need to get there act together. The 3 are gone terrible underage the last decade. Offaly have the kept the flag flying last few years in Leinster

Interesting to look at

35 players from senior clubs

4 players from Intermediate clubs Cian Kenny included in this

2 players from junior clubs

Was our senior panel through the years made up of over 90% from senior clubs or have we gotten lazy and not going to club games to see if any players are been missed. I am not saying they are been missed just asking the question.

Any thoughts on this ?

The extra game is a massive help at minor level

Just going off Munster results, we would struggle against all Munster teams at minor level

Waterford were far superior to us, they did not win a Munster. Cork won Munster and were defeated by Clare today in the all ireland semi final. Waterford scrapped through Limerick in the last round. Tipp were not sighted and we have a poor record against them at this level. Muster seems much superior to Leinster, Clare hammereed Galway in the last round.

That’s just nonsense to be honest,Waterford were not far superior to us ,last nights game could have gone either way and there’s no doubt we’re as good as any of the teams in Munster.
Im not saying we’d beat the Munster teams easily or anything silly like that but this KK minor team against any of the Munster teams could go either way and I’d back us against any of them.
I believe our lads are better than last nights performance.