Kilkenny GAA Thread

Worst kept secret in camogie......

North men only ....?

Congrats to Shamrocks,Danefort, Barrow Rangers and Muckalee on their wins at the weekend. We've been very lucky that we've had so much success at club level the few years that sometimes we take the success for granted but it's great to have these teams be successful and representing the county the way they do!

I know it's probably early to bee looking ahead to 2026 but was talking to someone yesterday about our chances for the year ahead and I think there is a fair chance that of the 1 to 7 that started against Tipp only 1 or maybe 2 will end starting in the same position come championship next year. Of the full back line that started that game it could easiy be that none ofthe 3 end up starting next year, Huw looks to be heading on his travels, Shane Murphy looks better suited to the half back line and Mikey Butler is no longer the guaranteed starter he once was. With Tommy Walsh also out injured our options in the full back line are all fairly inexperienced, the only player currently on the panel with experience at full back is Padraig Moylan but I would worry about him and I do think that he may be better suited at half back. Ivan Bolger, Killian Corcoran and Jeff Neary may all get chances to impress at corner back but I think we would have to accept that these are young/inexperienced players who may make mistakes. Darragh Corcoran performed very well for Shamrocks at full back in Joey Holden's absense last year, I wonder would he be our best bet at full back if Huw if gone? If we were going with 2 inexperienced player in the full back line it ay necessitate in playing an experienced player with them, personally I think that Mikey Carey could do a great job for us at corner back, he's fast, strong and good in the air and I think he could be a great option there. Half back could be an eve bigger conundrum with centre back being our achillies heal the last few years! Richie Reid has put in a brilliant club camaign behind him but I think most people would agree he's not an intercounty centre back, maybe a move to midfield might suit him but I think he could be in the category of brilliant club player not great intercounty player. David Blanchfield had a tough year last year with a loss of form then injury troubles but I think there is no diubt that he is one of our better players and looked to have regained his form during the club campaign. As said earlier Shane Murphy looks more suited to wing back and I'd like to see him given an extented run there during the league. Padriag Moylan is also an option at wing back as he has the size and hurling to play there. Personally I think it could be worth a shot trying Cian Kenny at 6, I know you're robbing Peter to pay Paul but 6 is arguably the most imortant position on the pitch and Kenny has all the attributes to be a top 6, he reads the game really well, his distribution is top class and he's brave and wants to get on the ball, I know size and physicality may be an issue but I think of all the options we have (not too many) he may be the best option. A wid card option for half back could be Gearoid Dunne who I thought was excellent there for Tullaroan this year. Goalkeeper is another interesting position for us but thankfully here there's no doubt we have a lot of quality options. There's no doubt that Eoin Murphy has been a great keeper for us and his shot stopping and ability under high balls s second to none but the role has changed and he has not adated to the new demands of the position and I think the time has come to give someone else a shot at the position. There is probably not much between Aidan Tallis, Dean Mason and Diarmuid Galway when picking a new keeper, they are all good shot stoppers but importantly their puckouts and willingness to vary the puckouts is top class, Mason has been excellent for Shamrocks but I think Tallis deserves his shot and he also had a really good campaign with Lisdowney too. What would peopl think of a back line of the below for 2026:

Aidan Tallis

Killian Corcoran, Darragh Corcoran, Mikey Carey

David Blanchfield, Cian Kenny, Shane Murphy

This woud also give you back up options of the likes of Mikey Butler, Padriag Moylan, Tommy Walsh (if fit), Richie Reid, Ivan Bolger, Jeff Neary, Paddy Deegan (though peronally I think he's a better option at half or full forward), even Eoin Keneally if he's called up.