Kilkenny GAA Thread

I think Wexford will be stronger than the last time they met Galway.

I think we maybe made Wexford look a better side than they are. Thought we underperformed but were still 6/7 points the better team on the day.

ye Chaz but Wexford were missing about four players for that Galway match including thr centre forward.maybe Billy Ocean can confirm this?

thanks for that Billy.

Minors showed how its done Saturday with a never say die display we are getting used to from this group. Plenty of good ones there with Jack Bolger more impressive each time I see him. Henry and management have gone with an experienced and physically strong team tonight which is what's required in Parnell Park. Recent years minor results would suggest we should be winning this one but Dublin 19s showed us in the park that they are more than capable. A real test for our boys and what a morale boost it would be to get the win. Best of luck to them.

Yeah, that Wexford-Galway game wasn’t as one-sided as the scoreline suggested, Wexford created the same number of scoring chances as Galway but hit some a terrible number of wides and then Niland pretty much beat Wexford by himself, wasn’t as if Galway were that dominant that day outside of him

I think its great for Kilkenny, Dublin and Wexford and will give them all a lift with a chance of winning Leinster if Niland is out for the next 2 weeks. Hopefully we can perform tonight and we get a good crowd to travel also. Looking forward to it. We need a lift.

Just my tuppence worth on Kilkenny hurling. I'm a Laois man on the border. I've admired Kilkenny hurling since a child in the early 80s. The way you go about things as a county and behaviour in victory and defeat.

Derek Lyng inherited a team that looked like it was heading towards its peak in 2022. You had the Cork loss in 2021 followed by a 2 point loss to peak Limerick in the All Ireland of 2022.

The team should have pushed on, and there should have been All Irelands up for grabs in 2024 and 2025 when Limerick were out and Cork unsure of themselves in finals.

However the trajectory has been:

2pt AI loss 2022

10pt AI loss 2023

Semi loss 2024

Semi loss 2025

It has been a stagnant to backwards trend. Nicky Brennan and Kevin Fennelly were given short shrift in the 90s. I can't see how Lyng was given the reins again for 2026. I know the backroom has been changed significantly. But the buck stops with the boss.

There's plenty of talent in Kilkenny. While underage aren't winning as much they were, they are always competitive. The 2025 minors lost to Waterford, eventual winners, by 2 or 3 points. The 2024 minor loss to Tipp with 13 was a bizarre one where tactically KK were poor. If Tipp had 15 the result may have been different. The 2024 U20s came as close to Offaly as any team in the competition.

Treat the two impostors of defeat and victory just the same, the truth is always in the middle. However since the reemergence of Limerick in 2018, where they probably measure the weight of each stool they pass, you need A1 management to compete. That's a compliment to Limerick. Every detail is dealt with meticulously by Kiely, Kinnerk and team.

fairly blustery here in Parnell. You would think it’s February.

Offaly perspective:

I attended last weekend in hope rather than expectation, like the majority of offaly supporters. All the history books pointed to a loss the question was how much

Kilkenny are definitely not the team you were thats clear, but 16 wides vs. 6 for offaly? 2 very good goal chances missed...on 9 out 10 days Kilkenny would have won by 5-6 points at least and i think that would have been fair.

Im delighted to say offaly are no longer the push overs we have been, this team has a grit that sticks as seen thoughout the league they will stay plugging no matter the scoreboard, a trait thats hard not to like.

Now to the hard part, I cant lie i was a bit shocked at the Kilkenny supporters and their reactions towards the end. Was the last call contraversial yes, but i personally think he actually got it right based on the footage albeit hard to call either way. In the same respect the last free given to Kilkenny was incredibly soft and like all games both teams could argue the toss over this & that decision all day. I dont understand the reaction being that the referee was at fault for Kilkenny retreating from Tullamore with a point because he quite simply wasnt.

Kilkenny kept Offaly in it, and buoyed by the home crowd they took their chance.

I have always admired Kilkenny for their leave it on the field attitude, from the great battles of the 90s to the doldrums we found ourselves in during the last 20 years, there was always respect and good natured banter or discussion.

What i experienced on saturday was miles away from that, and having been on the end of many a beating from the black & amber & taking it in good nature it was slightly hard to take when its not reciprocated when finally after 30 years the dark clouds are beginning to lift over the faithful county.

Really good performance, did really well in the first half against the wind the 2 Eds won a lot of high balls. Lacey was really good but Garrett was exceptional at fullback

Very good win for the U20s. Played controlled against the wind in the first half and hit some very nice scores with it in the second half. Was slightly surprised to see Kelly be subbed, he looked very useful in the 1st half.

Very good performance although Dublin were poor in the second half, totally flat in the first ten minutes or so of it and couldn't really make any inroads then, partly because our backs were very solid. Was the best kk performance I've seen in a while so that was nice. Garrett looked very assured all day, great head on his shoulders, not saying he needs to be dropped into full back for the seniors right away but long term he'll have to be an option there

Great to have a positive result after recent disappointments

Definitely has all the hallmarks of a future Kilkenny fullback, I think as he grows in confidence at senior level, he'll end up there in the future. Class tonight