Kilkenny GAA Thread

Yeh heard that was the team. Garrett, Barcoe and McDermott from seniors to come back. Big improvement in performance given they took a hammering from Cork a few weeks ago albeit with a weakened team. Heard Cork looked an impressive side. Munster will be some battle with Clare and Tipp very strong as well. Galway will be a huge challenge for Kilkenny, 4 lads starting with seniors and Rabbite and Niland look like serious hurlers.

I havent seen a lot of KK in the league. Its been a mixed bag. Nice to see a few new players getting time and i have been impressed with Moore and Garrett.

I dont know where the team is in development but I hope that we are concentrating on the fitness side first and then the hurling,

Going into the championship i think the FB position is the biggest question mark. I do hope the management team stick with the new players who have broken through and not revert to typo.

TJ coming back will be crucial for his frees of course but his cutness to win ball and his unselfishness. Eoin Cody has all the skill but infuriates me at times by being too selfish at times. A fit Adrian Mullen at his best could be the game changer we need but I think the most important thing is that we have bench that management will use.

As per management looking back as the last few years I feel they have prepared the team quite well but once things go against them in game time they are too slow to react and change. Sometime you might not fancy players you have on the bench but fresh legs can change a game and thats in an sport.

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If we can just avoid relegation this year with blooding players it is a bonus. Galway and Tipp away wont be easy for us and Waterford at home in there last match v Tipp could trouble them especially if we lose in Salthill the night before. Waterford wont fear Tipp at home.

I like Carey at 3 and think he will be excellent in time, the amount of excellent ball and runners coming through against Cork was ridiculous no full back could prevent it. Mikey Carey was not at fault for any goal, Richie Reid got blown out of it again by a 19 year old that caused the 2nd goal, David Barcoe was a bit inexperienced for the 3rd goal and for the first goal Carey was trying to stop Connolly who got his hands on the possession, Carey is not the best hurling wise but he carries the ball great out of defence and is a great athlete, give him time i think he could be excellent at 3.

I assume you mean Billy O'Sullivan in goal?

Never thought of Bergin and Ahern, they'd be 2 starters you'd think as well so likely 5/6 short on Sunday so, all up to the age as well. Conor Doyle not on panel I think.
Cahill from Ballycallan and young O'Donovan got the 2 goals, 2 cracking efforts by all accounts.
Forwards might be where we're caught though at 20's, our backs look strong. Big gap to close to that Galway team from U17 but looks a way stronger outfit than it did 3 years ago.

Interesting to hear someone say Stephen Donnelly was sick v Waterford. I think he has what it takes to be a very effective inter county forward, his cameo v Limerick was excellent. Looked very out of sorts against Waterford but that might explain it.

Jaysus I don’t know about that. What do you think there heights were?

No wasn’t there three village goalies on the minor team?

Think you might be getting your names mixed up Daniel Power was involved with a minor team a few years ago but he's overage. Three goalies with the 20's are Billy O'Sullivan (Village) Sean McGrath (GBC) and Jake Connery (Mooncoin)

LMAO now i'm getting my names mixed up. Jake O'Doherty (Mooncoin), Jake Connery is a forward from Comer.

L Moore and Stephen Donnelly when fully right should be ahead you would think, is John Donnelly a certain starter this year or could we see him coming on in games as an impact player like he has the past few weeks?

If we can’t find a place from 9-15 for a fully fit Adrian Mullen come the championship our panel will be in a very healthy place. We’ve started him in All-Ireland finals and championship games when he was sick and on one leg in the past so I can’t see him not starting when fit. Massive player for us with his ability and experience.

We are a good bit away from championship yet, Moore is big strong and pacey, also a good bit of aggression in him. Would like to see him at 11 for one or other of the last league games. On form so far he has to be a forward starter IMO. No point talking about Mullen or TJ , Shine or Rory Glynn as none have been seen yet. Hopefully all four will be available and on form and then we will be in a far healthier position. Not forgetting Michael Brennan ,Cahal Beirne, Stephen Donnelly and maybe one or two from the 20s. Along with Jjs 5 that is a good crop to be going to war with.

Agree 100%

Imo this is our best options for championship forwards right now and that's mullen cody J Donnelly moore tj and keoghan the only debateable one there Is moore but if he keeps hurling well and starts adding scores he's in. Oherwise it's stephen donnely or tom phelan imo

That would be great news.

We're far from the finished package, so many aspects of the team are not in the shape we'd like them, BUT for the first time in a couple of years we might actually have real competition for places. It feels like a long time since we actually debated the selection in any serious way on this board during championship, because you could more or less predict every starter and the subs weren't putting their hands up to challenge that.

But now you have Garrett, bolger and Tommy Walsh all looking for one spot, some debate around half back, and you have Ryan, if he's back, Moore, Stephen Donnelly and phelan all making a case for time on the pitch, and maybe even starting. Especially important in a situation where tj might not be a 70 minute player anymore.

Really hope we can avoid relegation because we are developing something we can build on here, genuinely.