Kilkenny GAA Thread

I can't believe people are back talking about moving the best full back, and arguably the best defender, in the country out of his natural position.

Country Club Catchment Areas

A little aside from all the current chat. Saw this on Reddit (credit to Next-Category-2439).

https://pride-in-the-parish.com/club-catchment-area-map/

I saw something about this in one of the GAA forums, so he might be knocking around here somewhere.

Some large catchment areas around the county, where there’s been very little return for the county over the years. Although actual population size might not fit with the actual size of the area I suppose

Rumour has it kk got a few bob compensation which could explain why it was all forgotten about so quickly.

Thank god you’re back to normal, I agree with all that.

You three must have the balls of a bull elephant. Marooned ,Nippy corner forward or should that be box to box or ...... whoever ,constantly slate management teams and the same two or three players. All three KK teams this year competed to the best of their ability IMO. Our minors lacked a good bit in physicality and were unlucky to lose for the one and only time against a Waterford team most agree are exceptional ( had the benefit of losing twice in munster). Lots to be optimistic about this group going forward. 20s achieved far more than was expected getting to the AI final, where everybody manager included accepted they didn't perform. We still saw one or more worthy of a look going forward with Ivan Bolger the standout. I have said enough about the seniors. When you see how Tipp tore Cork to shreds you appreciate just how unlucky we were on the day of the semi. Everything that could go wrong did and the scoreboard fiasco was the final straw. We were much fitter than 12 months ago even with an ageing squad. The Dara McCarthy type young blood we need to get us over the line just isn't there at the moment . Patience needed and appreciation of what we have and I include Paddy Deegan and Richie Reid in that. Anybody who ever stood under a high ball will understand what it takes to compete as our three teams have done in 2025.

I think that all the signs are pointing to Derek being manager again next year, I think if he was stepping away he'd have announced it by now to give them time to get a new man in before the business end of the championship. Looking at Kerry at the weekend and the job Jack O'Connor has done to instill a siege mentality where the players and management felt they were being disrespected by fans, media and ex players he transformed them into a bunch of players driven and hungrier than ever to get over the line, once they had this their natural skill and talent came to the fore and they got the type of performances they've put in over the last month or so. This is exactly what we need, a bunch of players driven and angry at how things have gone the past few years, I know for a fact that players aren't happy with how their achievements of winning 6 Leinster in a row is completely glossed over by the media and they are envious of the support other teams get compared to how poor our support has been the last few years. All the elements are there management and players need to develop this into a belief to prove their critics wrong. Reading Craig Morgan's all Ireland diary last week it struck me the work they had done with a performance coach and the belief and trust they had in the process and system, do we have a performance coach as it does sound like this is something we could do with.

On the pitch our problems are well documented here. Certain players have been criticised but the problem as I see it is that there are very few alternatives are being mentioned, hopefully once the club hurling starts this weekend that players start putting their hands up. One problem I see is that the younger players coming through seem to lack the mindset and drive to make it as a top class intercounty hurler, a lot of them have been on the panel 2/3 years but don't seem to be improving or driving on, some of this is obviously a management's fault but players need to step up also, too many seem to be happy with just being on the panel. I'd love if management went out and identified players with this drive and determination, who mightn't be a silky skillful player but players along the line of Gorta or John Hoyne who always gave 100% and were important leaders in the team without being the star names and who were vital to the AI's we won throughout the years. A bit of outside the box thinking is required, a fresh reset and I'd love to see them have trial games to see help identify and find new players.

Also, I seen some one mention the Dunmore development and I believe a development committee has been set up and that the plans are due to be outlined at the September CB meeting.

The big problem in Leinster is Galway, they are absolutely useless. Some of the displays by them the last 2/3 is disgraceful. The 2 performances against Kilkenny this year did nobody any good, better off with a challenge match or in house match in training, they were like bad challenge matches on a Sunday morning and players hungover

Hard to see past Village for Intermediate, anything but winning it will be seen as a serious failure in there. Mooncoin, Gowran, Tullogher (if Marty Murphy back fully fit) best of the rest but has to be James Stephen's to lose. Don't think Danesfort will be good enough but they're always there or thereabouts.

Think OLG will reclaim the Senior, hard to see Thomastown going back to back and question marks over Shamrocks but they'll match anyone on their day. Dicksboro mightn't be a bad bet if they get a few lads back. Tullaroan are good when on form but big ask for them to win it out, not completely beyond them though but maybe running out of time with some of their older lads. Bennettsbridge probably have already had their chances at this stage.

Reckon Junior will be Graignamanagh or Emeralds. Not sure Conahy are good enough without Tom Phelan. Outside bet Piltown but hard to see it. Windgap have bottled it for past 3 years and aren't improving. If they don't win it this year I can see them seriously going backwards as they have very little coming. They've gone all out hiring Mickey Walsh and Mick Dempsey along with last years management team persuaded to stay, so must plenty of money up there. Year too soon at least for Callan but signs of improvement there and they'll be knocking on door in next 2/3 years with the strength of their underage.

OLG/Village/Emeralds.

No huge shock I suppose. Both won Leinster Finals but both had poor days in All Irelands in Nowlan Park.
20's last year very unlucky with the mess up with the Carlow Snr match, they were capable of going all the way based on their very unlucky defeat to Offaly.

Same with Minors this year, a team good enough to win it out and probably unlucky they only got their 1st true test in the Semi Final. Waterford had 2 losses and learned from them whereas we didn't have that luxury. Very small thing there and we'd have back to back minor All Ireland wins.

As someone said before, 2 good Kilkenny men who gave oceans of their spare time to the cause, and they deserve our gratitude for that. We should also remember that nobody will be more disappointed than themselves that they didn't claim the ultimate prize.

Massively imortant decisions coming for both appointments.

So nothing to do with Wexford, Dublin, Offaly and all the rest being useless as well?

Richie Power and Henry Shefflin are lined up for underage jobs.

look up potential candidates on the Cait og booklet from two years ago.

It would be great to see the likes of Power Walsh and Shefflin involved at the underage. We need winning mentalities at our underage level and those 3 had.

Great chance for the CB to do a major reset at intercounty level of the 3 grades now. As a previous poster said we need to start injecting the siege/winning mentality back into our teams. For years now we are too nice at all levels. Time for KK teams to start stepping on peoples toes.

Yes Conor Martin is back from Australia

In fairness to Hoban when he was with the minors previously (2013-2015?) he had a great record with them and his record with Shamrocks speaks for itself. I think he would be a good appointment, he's a winner and his teams play with a nice blend of skill and aggression that we've lacked at underage recently.