Kilkenny GAA Thread

The Village will have the best panel of hurlers but that doesn't always mean you win, especially at intermediate in Kilkenny. I would expect the Village to sail to a quarter final or semi final but that's when a young team like this will find the going tough. If they come up against a big physical, experienced team that won't spare them, I could see them having a tough day especially as the weather usually starts to turn by that time. A wet day on a slippy pitch will not suit a lot of what the Village have. It's very hard to know without seeing them under their new management but I wouldn't be as sure as you that they will jump straight back up.

I was talking to Mickey Walsh a few weeks ago and he said he was asked to do a few sessions with Windgap. It didn't sound like he was fully involved, more helping out with coaching sessions, I could be wrong though. The last I heard M Dempsey was with Loughmore-Castleiney (footballers) and his own club St Josephs.

Has a great record no doubt but we can’t keep going back to the same guys over and over

To be fair my granny could have managed that shamrocks squad to success they didn’t need a manager

Yeh I'm not saying Walsh and Dempsey are there full time with Windgap, but they certainly were earlier in the season.

I agree re Village to an extent but they're not only relying on young players they have plenty of experience mixed in. Will be more difficult for them from October but still hard to see past them.

OK thanks. Obviously an excellent player at junior level. Still think they'll be a bit off winning it. Piltown and ballyraggett 2 more clubs with the ability to be at the business end.

Lisdowney are really in a group of death. They would have fancied themselves against most of the teams in the other group. Hard to see them finishing above the bottom 2

Poorly worded on my behalf and yes it's my opinion, based on the evidence I have seen. It's not fact.

There is definitely criticism and some of it maybe unfair as I'm not involved in the setup whatsoever. I have not been party to any training or player/management conversation. However I have had frank conversations with players and members of backrooms both current and past. I have formed my opinions, based on the pieces I've heard about the setup from those who have been involved and the evidence I see on the field. I might be way off but I'm relaying what I'm seeing.

What is the ultimate mark of success for a Kilkenny team (players and management)?

It's an All Ireland victory, no if, ands or buts.

By those very high standards our recent setups have not been ultimately successful. (Except Dereks 2022 U20's)

I'm interested in why we haven't been successful, so I ask questions and try to reason it out. The misattributed (it wasn't Einstein) phrase comes in handy "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." In my mind we have been attacking the problem we have (not winning All Irelands) with the same thing (same players and management style) and we're hoping beyond hope we get a different result!! It hasn't worked so far and my fear would be it won't next year if we run it back again.

I have the height of respect for Cody and Lyng and all the work they have put into Kilkenny. We owe them both a massive debt of gratitude. It's huge dedication and enormous personal sacrifice but unfortunately when you carry the hopes of a hurling mad county on your shoulders and your not ultimately successful, there will be criticism. It's nothing personal, I've met both Brian and Derek and I have always liked them, I think their both very nice and genuine men. That does not mean I have to agree with how they have managed Kilkenny at all times. No doubt they would say walk a mile in my shoes and I would be wholey unqualified too. You know what the say about opinions?! Like everyone else I have both.

Subservience and unquestioning faith/loyalty has got us to where we are. We have a county board full of delegates afraid/unable/unwilling to question. A few do but no where near enough.

It needs a shake up and the natives are getting restless. If they get change they might not like what they get but it will at least be different. We have failed the same way for more than 3 years now and been close on many occasions. In 100 years time there will be no asterisk beside Limericks win in 2022, Clares in 2024 or Tipps in 2025 - "this team won but do you know what Kilkenny were really close". There has been little change player-wise or even the message from the top. Derek was involved with Cody from 2013 to 2018, then over the U20's for 2019-2022 and 2023 to now at Senior. That's 13 years involved in the Senior or U20 setup. That's huge and we owe him a massive thanks.

I think the players would benefit from a fresh point of view, a fresh voice. It's probably unfair on Derek as he had the balls to take on the most difficult of jobs, being first in after Cody. We all really wanted him to succeed and freshen it up, we were really wishing him to be successful as he had taken such a hard job. Following the most successful manager of all time is rarely fruitful.

I will always cheer on Kilkenny and support them but that doesn't mean I won't say something if I think we're going wrong. I try not to be overly critical or personal. I usually try to add something constructive where I can think of it. Sport is tough/ruthless and no one knows that better than Derek or Brian and I doubt the care what some anonymous poster on Boards thinks about the job their doing or have done.

Correct Ned, a blatant square ball against Galway which Galway scored a goal. I remember Pat Hoban was at the far end of the pitch and by the time he got back up there was no argument with the ref. I also remember Geoff Lynskey was a smart ass in the interviews after.

Henry should get a bounce from the shamrocks. Theres a few home. Think its ronan corcoran,brian cody and joey cuddihy. Loughlins have cian loy back who will also be a help. Lisdowney missing a few through injury and traveling. Boro also a few traveling and harry shine injured. The bridge also missing a few from last year. Richie leahy is back for the rower but they also missing a few.

Regarding the underage management big names wont guarantee anything but kk could really do with some of them former greats getting involved if they had time.its a big few weeks for the county board to appoint the best people and do what ever they can to get them. U17,u20 and mick fennellys role have to be filled by the right people.The senior backroom team could do with a shake up.Brian dowling staying with kildare best of luck to him he is doing great work.

Huge thanks due to Mark Dowling ,Niall Bergin and all involved with their backroom teams for all the time , dedication, commitment they gave to our minor and under 20 setups over a number of years. I have no doubt they have served the players involved and their county well.

On a very positive note a huge round of fixtures this weekend and the coming weekends in Junior, intermediate and senior grades, not forgetting the concluding stages of Junior A to F. With the County Board keeping the entry fee to a fiver I don't expect to hear any complaints even here🙂.

I think every team that plays the Village will rise there game a few percent when they are up against them. The days of a club being relegated and hopping straight back up is very hard. My gut feeling is that Mooncoin will take those honours.

Couldn't see Graig being in shake up to win Junior. Some fine players but they find the tough very going in Championship games for a long time, still a very open championship in Junior this year so who knows.

If the village aren’t tighter at the back this year they will be in trouble conceding goals was there big problem last year it could take them 2 years to come up intermediate is by far the most even grade there’s a lot of big physical teams with plenty of experience who will only love crack off them anyone of 6-7 teams could win intermediate if they get on a run

Martin ó Néill a player to watch. Worth his place on kk panel ahead of some already there. They had a few away last year and still nearly beat lisdowney, pá Walsh and Sean gannon to name 2.

Great start to the club championship last night with a huge crowd and the performance from TJ. Shamrocks will be hard to beat and will get better in the next few weeks if all stay fit and get back their injured players. Darragh Corcoran was excellent and how Lyng dropped him from the panel does not make any sense whatever the reasons. TJ was excellent from play in the first half and his frees against the wind in the second half were superb.

The Bridge will take positives and negatives from the game and will learn from it. Enda Cleere was brilliant in the goal with two fantastic saves and and very good puckouts. Jamie Harkin and James Hughes were excellent on the frees with Nicky Cleere missing. The Bridge were too soft at times and played two many short passes also instead of getting the ball into Liam Blanchfield. If the get Nicky Cleere and Ciaran Brennan back they will improve. Kevin Blanchfield and Jason Cleere wont be back.

Tullogher aren't too bad, I always think if you have forward options in intermediate you won't be far away. Conor Hennesy only came on, they are missing Marty Murphy and not sure if Cian O Donoghue is around, they added Colman O Sullivan to forwards, and the Murphys and Wally. They will be in the mix for a semi final at least.

Mooncoin always seem to be very process driven instead of just going at it. Very defensive and never change things up. Thought it was decent standard and enjoyable. Some crowd in fairness. Great to have the club stuff back. Didn't see what happened with Pat Hartley and Croke.

Fair play to you for coming down south village ha ha!!

Wally is some athlete for his age. And put O'Neill on the backfoot. Tullogher will be delighted with that result missing Marty and cian ó Donoghue. Colman Sullivan at 11 upset the mooncoin defence with his movement and ball winning. Andrew Murphy was excellent on the frees. Must have got 13 or 14 in all.

Agree about mooncoin. Trying to pass the ball all the way up field is tough, and it didn't work tonight. Nit sure why they need a sweeper when they have the likes of o Neill and hennebry in the half back line. I'm sure they'll improve as the season goes on.

You're right. Mullinavat is a super venue. Think Marty Murphy mightnt be back for another 2 or 3 weeks.

The village look to be experimenting a bit with Kenny named at 6 and a few experienced lads on the bench.