Kilkenny GAA Thread

Look at Tipp last year and 2019. Clare in 2024.We have been winning Leinster and it hasnt worked out. My thinking is we would have more game time for players like Mullen and Shine to get upto match fitness and also give the younger players more big game experience. Limerick didnt win it in 2018 when they started to come big time. We are strolling through Leinster with maybe 1 or 2 difficult games and then when we come up agains Munster teams who are taking lumos out of each other we are struggling. Limerick were way ahead of the rest but have come back while the rest have improved in munster. So it is now a battle from the first game.

Fair argument but I'd still maintain the best route is the winning route. Tipp gained momentum last year no doubt, but their 2 games before the semi were against a (losing) Joe Mac team and a completely ragged Galway side who were pathetic on the day. We then handed them an All Ireland final appearance with numerous unforced mistakes, a lucky last gasp goal, and a poor choice from John Donnelly at the death that would still have seen us deservedly win the game.

We would be outsiders to win an All Ireland no doubt, we are 5th in the betting, but the way the fixtures are falling gives us a serious chance of gaining momentum. We would also be facing, I believe, a lower quality Munster team than has been the case previously. The caveat there is we are missing arguably the best defender in the game as well.

It's terrible to say it but the winners of this years final will be arguably the poorest team in a long time to do so, with the possible exception of last years final. The jury is still firmly out on that Tipp team.

Firstly its always best to win Leinster. Silverware is Silverware but:

We are not getting the same games as Munster teams and then when we meet them in the Semi they dog us out of it as they have had the games at that instensity all year while we may have got one or 2 in Leinster. WE have a few new players that have come in this year and no disrepect to Wexford but they need games like we seen last weekend in Waterford and Cork where they either sink or swim. Going the back door will give us the oppurtunity to get more intense games into these players if we win. Im hoping we get a right ding dong game in Birr and Parnell Park. Its what we need.

Beat clare away in a do or die, waterford, galway,kilkenny with 14 men for the last 15mimutes and hammered cork as underdogs in the final. The tipp 2025 team were the most deserving winners and it doesn't matter what they do this year, it won't take from some memorable performances last year. Lost 1 championship game last year with 14men for 70minutes. Some of the revisionism online is plain begrudgery.

I rewatched the Wexford match last night and the commentator mentioned that Ivan Bolger was the first player from Graignamanagh to play Senior champions for Kilkenny since the early 90s, the name escapes me who it was. It got me thinking and I've tried putting the below together without using Google so no doubt have forgot some obvious ones!

Barrow Rangers - Richie Doyle ~ 2016?

Bennettsbridge - current players

Blacks and Whites - Chap Cleere ?

Carrickshock ~ John Power ~2017?

Carrigeen -

Clara - Lester Ryan ~ 2017

Cloneen -

Conahy Shamrocks - current player

Danesfort - Richie Hogan - 2024

Dicksboro - current player

Dunnamaggin - Noel Hickey ~2013

Emeralds - current player

Erin’s Own - Conor Fogarty 2024

Fenians - JJ Delaney ~ 2014 (Did Garrett come on in either match this year?)

Galmoy - Billy Drennan 2024/5

Glenmore - current players

Graignamanagh - current player

Graigue Ballycallan - Billy Ryan 2025

James Stephens - current player

John Lockes - John Power ~2002

Kilmacow - Richie O Neill?

Lisdowney - current player

Mooncoin - Eddie or D Mackey?

Mullinavat - Willie O' Dwyer?

O’Loughlin Gaels - current players

Piltown - Liam McCarthy - early 90s

Rower Inistioge - Richie Leahy ~ 2019

Shamrocks Ballyhale - current players

Slieverue - Niall Walsh?

St. Lachtain’s - James Maher ~ 2019

St. Martin’s - John Mulhall ~ 2011

St. Patricks - Kevin Kelly ~ 2019

Thomastown - current players

Threecastles -

Tullaroan - current player

Tullogher Rosbercon - Wally Walsh 2024

Windgap -

Young Irelands - current player

It is and should be the best way but i feel the last 2 years has changed the dynamic. Tipp havent won a Munster title since 2016, Clare i think was the 90s. So you would meet one of the munster teams in the AI Q/F and pssibly the winners of Munster in the semi. That would give serious game time to players. I personally dont think the format is doing us any favours ATM. If we got a serious game and lost the Leinster Final and then got a serious QF game and won it I think it would be an awful lot more benefical than winning Leinster and having a break to the semi. It all about opinions.

It would only give serious game time to the players if you win the first knockout game against Munster opponents though…. So that might as well be the semi final. As I said Tipp had the luxury of a couple of easy games to build momentum. As you say it’s all about opinions but I think if we lost to Galway again we’d be psychologically finished for this year.

Why do you say it would be the poorest winner in a long time?

well they were poor enough at minor level after having those two good minor teams the year before. But saying that they snatched a win v Laois at the death last month.

Windgap would have John Power as well

Tipp may have overachieved last year but only in the sense that so many of their key players were quite young. The wiring thing is, whether they win this year or not, they probably do have a few more in them down the road. I've no doubt Galway do as well.

A few changes on the minor team from last week, Mattie Corr back from suspension and named corner forward,also Meany and Treacy named after two yellow cards each the last day. View the team on KK gaa

Winning Leinster is always the best route. The Cody era was different though. He had the squad to battle harden players in training. He also had time between games now you get one 2 week break. We dont have the same squad of players but also and listening to players now its all about recovery between games. The game has changed on the field but off the field it has completely changed. If we were guaranteed 3 games every year like the 4 you get in Munster it would have our players at that level of speed of the game and speed of the mind. IMO its not doing us any good ATM. If we dont beat Dublin we will probably end up in the qualifiers. If we get to the final I believe it will be a 50/50 game vs Galway.

For us to have any chance of winning the AI we have to have a domiant HB line. Carey has to turn into a top No 3 and Corocoran a solid No 6. Deegan has to have an error free season and Blachfield return to his best along with Butler and hopefully Bolger turns into a great FB.

Midfield i think we are ok in. We can have any of Molloy Doyle or Kenny there.

The key for me is if we can get Mullen back but at 100%. That can be the game changer for this team.

ye might be the time to try a few things either.

well you would always want to be careful and we might not be any great shakes.