Kilkenny GAA Thread

I didn't really notice the soft frees, but I felt that the Kilkenny lost their shape a bit. Lofting balls into a "spare forward" that didn't actually exist. If it was 14 v 14, they would possibly have stuck with creating overlaps and working the scores.

We'll never know, but it's interesting that so many of us feel the same way about it!

So we're on the same page, I don't think it was an UNFAIR advantage to Tipp that Deegan stayed on! There's a difference between discussion of advantages versus unfair advantages. For instance, Tipp seemed to take better advantage of the weather. There's nothing unfair about that.

Basically it's almost exactly like how Dublin's sending off turned out to not suit Limerick: the team with 15 men lost their focus and structure. That's Lyng's fault, ultimately. People can say "the players are responsible" but Lyng is the one tasked with having a back-room team capable of making sure the players are mentally ready for every situation.

62 mins on the clock, Kilkenny had 0-28 scored.......only 2 more added in the remaining time, 8 + 4 mins injury time. Down the closing stretch, we couldn't clinch it. Just looked at the match again, how did O O'Donoghue get that shot off in a crowd? It was an unbelievable goal for Tipp and really powered them on for home. On another day, he was blocked or hooked. Then Doyle's goal line save from John Donnelly, just one of those days when our luck was out. Still thought our players fought to the bitter end but just wasn't to be I'm afraid

Ormonde and O'Farrell had their quietest games of the championship also Jake so HB line did well until it went 15 v 14 when unforced mistakes were made. I honestly feel we played and lasted the pace much better than last year v Clare and as in that game Cody and Mullen disappointed , because there is more in them. The scoreboard fiasco just summed up our day.

We definitely found a way to lose that yesterday. We were all over them early on and played our best hurling in a while. John Donnelly was wondering all over the place and causing them all kinds of trouble until O Meara went on him and Jordan Molloy was running straight down the middle of them. Not sure what happened Adrian Mullens touch but it totally deserted him.

Our Corner backs were badly exposed and contested the same ball a few times. We scored 30 points but we are clearly missing something when it comes to killing games and making the right decisions when games are in melting pot.

Tipp are getting most out of a team that is building in fairness to them. They got plenty of luck and our poor decisions helped them see it out. In reality this team aren't world beaters and will lose to Cork but from their point of view they are in some position. They are starting a re build but have the materials coming. This is a bonus all ireland for them. If you are being realistic you could say John Mcgrath and Fordes best days are behind them, Sam O Farrell is a right hurler but not a forward, really not sure on McCarthy, he is too patchy for me. That being said Jake Morris and Ormond are the real deal, and O Donovan and Stapleton from u20s look serious so if they sort McCarthys discipline and mentality they will be a real force as well as rest of the underage talent like Euan Murray coming. So the point is we have been beaten by a team that is starting a journey at the minute that are getting the mentality and gameplay right and this will lay the foundation for what is to come.

Where does that leave us? Well we are a year further down the line having played the same team with same tactics and have limited talent ready to step in. We scored 30 points so we can't be too bad, we have good hurlers but are refusing to experiment and refusing to try and mix a different type hurler in with what we have. We refuse to try a Luke hogan who is awkward but has pace and a cut to him but because he doesn't look tidy he doesn't get in. Same with an Owen Wall because he might not win a dropping ball. But who would enjoy marking those lads. Derek has delayed our rebuild and has been too conservative with things. We have tried the same options too many times now. A slight shake up could have moved things on but we made three subs and had no trust in our panel. Its not a great place to be. We need a more physical presence at centre back, midfield and half forward line for one thing and make ourselves horrible to play against. A Huw Lawlor or Mullen centre back could freshen things up but if I was manager of Kilkenny next year I would start with our half back line and try build a team from there because Carey, Reid and Deegan together doesn't work.

It is more disappointing to be in the same position again with nothing solved as opposed to losing a standalone semi final albeit against the old enemy.

Lots of frustration here - which is natural after such a disappointing defeat. Here is my take on things for what it is worth now that I have had time to reflect....

It's not often that the better team lose a game .... but the better team lost yesterday.

I think Tipperary were deserving winners of the game because of the attitude, desire, application and ambition they showed; but they were not the better team yesterday.

I think Kilkenny were incredibly unlucky yesterday. The deterioration in weather stopped our momentum, balls broke the wrong direction, a couple of refereeing decisions, the scoreboard error, you name it - we just couldn't catch a break.

Added to that some basic individual errors - many leading directly to Tipp scores. Especially Mullen, Reid and Deegan.

It was a perfect storm really - and hard to believe Donnelly nearly snuck it for us at the end.

We have lost the fight we were known for. That's the worst thing - we went out timidly - a stark contrast to Tipp yesterday. They were ready to die on their shield yesterday. Also, you make your own luck to an extent.

Major surgery is now needed. We have regressed since Cody's departure. Lyng seems a decent man and has the best of intentions but he has not installed that killer instinct needed. Our preparation for this game was ideal - a 4 week break, an apparent clean bill of health - plenty of opportunity during Leinster campaign to identify areas of improvement. I expected a comfortable win to be honest.

i hope Lyng steps aside sooner rather than later and I hope the next appointment is carefully considered. It is essential we appoint someone that is not afraid to drop big names and put faith in youth. Someone that plays to a specific style that suits our players. I am happy to write off the next year or two if we are clearly building something. Tipp have big talent coming through and we need to be ready to take them on - just like they did to us from 2009 on. We need somebody with passion that can motivate - with clever coaches. I am thinking Andy Comerford might be the type of personality we need but an improvement in coaching is essential and we cannot just take the cheap option here.

I assume Eoin Murphy & TJ will retire now. Two great servants to the county and both have given us great memories.

Four weeks to the club championship. Looking forward to it. Hopefully we have a new management team in place for it.

Andy Comerford and Martin Fogarty. Lord Jaysus lads

Andy Comerford is a very strange one is gorta on here posting under a pseudonym

Would Noel Doherty or Brian hogan step up if Derek moved on thomastown and olg have been the best club sides to watch over the last few years and have played a good mix of traditional hurling and the running game

Would be interesting to see what the olg management team could do with our forward unit

It might be time accept that being Kilkenny is not enough anymore drop the arrogance or reliance on history keep the manager a kk person but go outside the county for a hurling coach and selectors some freshness and new ideas

Is there a Tipp thread, or even a real Dan Breen one where he can talk to himself all day. He wasn't working today anyway.

All the shi*ing about the time, debating everyone, as if anything said on boards.ie will make a difference to that.

Well that's it losing the doggedness and ability to close out a tight game has gone in all grades. The winning culture.

Meath football were renowned for it for 20 years up to 2001. They might be getting it back, but when you lose it, it's hard enough getting it back.

I have no idea who should take over. Lyng was the obvious choice the last time. Shefflin will be front runner but not sure after he f… off to Galway the way he did will the CB approach him.

I really do hope they do a real thorough process and interview a wide range of potential candidates and not rush. There is the bones of a team there. But key positions need to be addressed.

So the names mentioned so far are as follows:

Mulally

Comerford

Fogarty

Brennan

Shefflin

Herrity

Cheddar Plunkett, familiar with the Kilkenny scene..

Just joking😂 Though he mightn't be that bad. That would be some mind boggling scenario.

I would hope they interview a wide range of candidates.

That’s the dissapointing thing. The team fought hard to get back into the match in the second half and then we had them there for the taking, even more so when they went a man down. Like a bullfighter with his hand on the sword over the bull, but our nerve went, the hand quivered and we were gored. We’ve lost something somewhere along the way.

Sorry should have been Oisin O Donohue and Paddy McCormack