Kilkenny GAA Thread

kk.man · 13-05-2026 10:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466056#Comment_124466056

Id never dwell on controversial last minute decisions as Brian Cody would say 'we shouldn't have been in that position in the first place'.

What did Cody do after the 2014 all ireland...he hauled the team home instead of staying in Dublin that night and began preparations for the replay.

Marrooned · 13-05-2026 10:56PM

Garret was exceptional tonight, his interceptions at critical times in the second half were top drawer coming out time and time again with ball in hand. I wonder will be forearmed after the fright tonight or will it gives us hope that Galway are not invincible. Clare won on penalties I heard.

Marrooned · 13-05-2026 11:07PM

one thing I must mention tonight was the management team, they were spread down the line shouting encouragement throughout the entire game without pissing off the referee, the two under us were Shane Walsh and Richie O Neill. Kevin Buggy’s two points when he came in were top drawer.

NJoyKkGAA · 13-05-2026 11:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466056#Comment_124466056

To be fair, I think Offaly were really good. However, I think the final call was what tipped the balance for the Kilkenny supporters. I have never seen such a strong reaction from Kilkenny supporters either but I think it was the overall performance of the ref on the night for all the soft frees against Kilkenny. I am fully aware of the need to respect referees as it is a touch job. On this occasion I don’t think the ref had his finest hour. I would not like to see the response by another province if he reffed their match in the same manner.

Brian017 · 13-05-2026 11:28PM

Is the U20 Leinster Final a defacto AI SF like the last few years?

JJs Left Hand · 13-05-2026 11:35PM

Yes. Presume the Leinster final is next Wednesday with the All Ireland the 30th May

Krazy gang · 13-05-2026 11:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466056#Comment_124466056

Fair play to offaly. Great to see ye improving with afineteam. . Hope ye can beat wexford and kildare , to qualify would be an amazing achievement.

Hope you don't get the idea that kilkenny is anti offaly. Anyone i know has great time for offaly and says it would be great to see ye back competing again.

Willie Power · 14-05-2026 12:00AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466189#Comment_124466189

In the discourse about Huw Lawlor one point rarely mentioned is he's 31 now, the age Tommy Walsh, JJ Delaney etc retired. So looking for FB cover would be on the horizon regardless.

I was trying to think of full back who played into their mid 30s and can only think of Brian Lohan in 2006 and Daithi Burke with Galway more recently.

NJoyKkGAA · 14-05-2026 12:10AM

Expressing dissatisfaction with the senior manager and management team is not a problem. However, the manner of expression is. Berating these individuals who commit such a lot time and effort to the this county alongside living their professional and family lives is hugely disrespectful. It serves no constructive purpose. It seems that the strong negativity from some posters is relentless and tiresome. This management team, like it or not, is the management team in place for now. It would be helpful to offer support to this team and squad for what’s left of this season.
The GAA has always been about more than winning matches.
It represents community, volunteerism and respect. I think this needs to be remembered. How we treat one another within the GAA matters deeply.
Managers and management teams are volunteers, as are all the individual players and panel members, giving of their time and energy to training, logistics, player welfare and match preparation. Not one of them deserves what has been strewn across these pages of late.
Constructive discussion is always healthy but personal attacks is not. This serves no one and will have no positive outcome. It creates emotional noise while the team is trying to prepare and compete.
Feedback to management is fine if it’s through the right channels with respectful intent. So:
Speak directly to management.
Speak to club officers.
Offer solutions to management not blame.
Remember everyone on the management team and panel want this team to succeed.
Do you want to get behind them or stand in front of them?

Marrooned · 14-05-2026 08:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466558#Comment_124466558

look the whole situation here is based on frustration here, you say we shoud talk to the county board management, do you think this will happen because they don’t be listening to th Clubber reps so what chance have the supporters got then ? Do you want to reward mediocrity if so this situation will limp on for ever and ever. And I for one am not happy with this situation. The most annoying subject on here is we ha o got the players. We have if they are given a chance. eg Killian Doyle is improving by the day because he is getting the chances, Liam Moore the same. I stated weeks ago Rory Garrett should be left on the edge of the square. A year or two ago people didn’t want change, now they do. I got into trouble just back a page or two ago with Never bet over my believe we would be better off out of the competition so that we can push for change. There is nothing sinister in this all posters here are interested in the wellbeing of our teams make no mistake about that. I will leave it at that for the moment I have to go to work.

Charlie69 · 14-05-2026 08:46AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466056#Comment_124466056

I’m only seeing this now for some reason and I agree with a lot of what you say in that there’s no doubt we were the architects of our downfall, we left so many scores behind us and didn’t perform anywhere near the standard we expect, so it would be totally wrong to pin everything on the ref or the 65 decision at the end, but I don’t think we did that. I’d also totally agree that our last free for a foul on Cian Kenny was on the soft side.

But Jaysus lad I think you’re being a bit precious expecting no reaction from the Kilkenny crowd to what was a hugely contentious decision that literally decided the result, The frustration wasn’t just about the 65 decision either, it had been building over the course of the game . I said earlier in the thread that I’m a huge admirer of this young Offaly team and our frustration had nothing to do with them at all but 16 frees to 8 did feel very disproportionate on the day and Kilkenny supporters ( I was delighted to hear it tbh) as Krazy gang said earlier were reacting to the overall handling of the game by Johnny Murphy as much as anything else.

The Offaly crowd around us were up in arms over every decision themselves during the game …. and rightly so . You want your home supporters to be the 16 th man in a tight championship game … of course you do. I can only imagine what the reaction would have been from the Offaly support if that 65 had been given against them at the death… there would have been uproar, and again rightly so.

I also think to be honest the reaction might have had something to do with a wider frustration among Kilkenny fans with how the team has been performing this year but I certainly didn’t witness any ill will towards Offaly on the day but there’s always a few apes that let every County Down at times so I certainly hope not.

I also said earlier how important it is to be magnanimous in victory or defeat (I realise it was a draw) and as far as I’m concerned even though as you say we missed enough chances to win two games Offaly probably deserved to win the game on the day for their performance and I wish them well and really hope they continue on this upward trajectory, the Leinster championship needs a strong Offaly badly. I also hope young Charlie Mitchell makes a full recovery and that we see him in the Offaly colours again soon please God.

Nedflanders02 · 14-05-2026 09:23AM

Good win for the U20's last night, it's never easy going to Parnell Park so to get 2 wins up there in the one week is encouraging! As others have stated Rory Garrett was excellent last night, I thought Darragh Vereker beside him had a really good game too! There was a good spread of scorers too and I thought Patrick Lacey followed up his performance the last day with another really good showing. The work rate was very good too and I thought the subs we brought on all contributed well also! Did Barcoe pick up an injury to be taken off at half time? Galway got out of jail in the other semi final, Wexford frustrated them and they needed to bring in there big players to get them out of a hole! Talking to a friend in Wexford they were about as pleased witht he ref last night as we were with Johnny Murphy at the weekend!

Marrooned · 14-05-2026 11:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466871#Comment_124466871

Barcoe was getting his back rubbed by one of the backroom team during the warm up last night. I don’t know if I mentioned it earlier but Micheal Ahearn is some tenacious corner back I was very impressed with his play.

neverbet · 14-05-2026 11:27AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466871#Comment_124466871

Agree with that. Just like last year we were much better than the Dubs. Along with Garrett and Vereker, Dollard was again impressive. Barcoe didn't look right from the off.unfortunate that . Will need him in form next week. I would also like to see Kevin Buggy midfield. Though small in stature he brings to this team what Jack Bolger does for the minors ,that bit of classy link up play.Most encouraging for me is the form of Patrick Lacey. Second deserved Motm award. Clinical and pacey and along with Joe Dowling and O'Neill Pembroke of the 17s I see real possibilities for the future. Horrible evening weatherwise and great win. Two Leinster finals to look forward to and outside chance of a third.

Krazy gang · 14-05-2026 12:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466871#Comment_124466871

Galway seemed to get a lot of handy frees for minimal contact. Reffed different to the Munster final anyway. Although the ref there made some mad calls, for and against both teams.

Having said that wexford had a lot of poor wides.

TryMyBest · 14-05-2026 12:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466871#Comment_124466871

I don’t think he was that harsh on Wexford tbh, he was probably the same for both teams but the game was very stop-start, he was very quick to give frees when lads ran at the opposition and were met with contact, there was one time there was a ruck on the ground that went on for over a minute before he blew the whistle, Tipp-Clare game was completely different, even the U20 games get refereed differently in Leinster compared to Munster

Nedflanders02 · 14-05-2026 12:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124467405#Comment_124467405

Yeah he definitely seemed very quick to give frees, I thought the last couple of frees he gave against Wexford were soft enough but I do think ref's will always give a team a chance to level a close game. The ref in the munster final gave some a few contentious frees during normal time but in fairness to him I thought e reffed it well in extra time and definitely helped make it a good game.

neverbet · 14-05-2026 01:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124466730#Comment_124466730

Frustration is not exclusive to any one individual or section of KK hurling folk .The poular saying now in sport is not to be too up when u win or too down when you lose. Find perspective and drive on. You make some points three in particular and I think all are to the credit of management both senior and u20. As you are aware Rory Garrett has had a heavy game load this year and it told against him in the 20s round robin where he succumbed to injury. That was managed in a common sense way and he is back and playing well. He will have a huge battle next week with Rabbitte. Note how Galway are also protecting their young stars game wise. Liam Moore for his own reasons only made himself available at the start of this season ( you being a Boro man know this) and he is developing nicely and hopefully more to come. Killian Doyle has been on the panel probably three years now and it shows patience can sometimes gain its rewards. Management and Lyng in particular received plenty of club loyalty barbs on this forum over the perseverence with the dual Fitzgibbon and under 20 AI winner who also had his injury issues at the crucial stage of last season. Hopefully Mullen, Shine and Donnelly will be available to contribute over the coming two weeks when our fate at senior will be decided. Only time will tell but with the two other stalwarts travelling it needs to be acknowledged it hasn't been plain sailing for our seniors this year.

lob it in · 14-05-2026 02:05PM

The Leinster U20 final is fixed for Croke park?

Nedflanders02 · 14-05-2026 02:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124467692#Comment_124467692

O'Moore Park according to the Kilkenny Gaa website

Firstsub · 14-05-2026 03:12PM

What I like about Killian Doyle is he has a good first touch and makes good use of the ball. If he can chip in with some more points, he can nail down a place

Village87 · 14-05-2026 03:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124467942#Comment_124467942

Yeah made an impact off the bench in the semi final last year too, absolute madness from management last year having no impact off the bench in todays game, or no plan for an injection with 10-15 mins to go. He has a good first touch and looks to use the ball straight away be it a small off load or pass. Should be holding down a midfield slot now, Derek Lyng nearly made a balls of his development between throwing him in too young and then making a balls of him u20 and probably costing KK an All Ireland in the process.

Todays rant over

Takeyourpoints · 14-05-2026 04:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124467942#Comment_124467942

I think playing with UL has stood to Doyle no end. Out of the players that we've seen come in this year he is the player that seems most comfortable with playing the ball in small spaces. I've been impressed with him in the games we've seen. He has a tendency to fade from games but that may be caused by the fact that the team seems to revert to hitting it long when things aren't going well.

Give it to tj · 14-05-2026 06:59PM

Off last nights game the 20s are improving every game lacey,Garret and aherne by far the standouts. Based off the 6 forwards from last night lacey looks the closest to senior standard would love to see him next year along with garret and barcoe getting more game time and maybe a breakout for Jack dollard or others if they have good club seasons

Marrooned · 14-05-2026 07:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124467532#Comment_124467532

what are are you a **** lecturer?

neverbet · 14-05-2026 08:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124465366#Comment_124465366

My tuppence worth on your tuppence worth. As a consistent attendee at KK games league and championship from long before you were born I would suggest our defeat in 2022 was Cody's last throw of the dice. A fantastic attempt by the great man to wrestle a title from a team that are now regarded in the same league as our generational teams 2000/2015. Many posters here have contended BC had got every last ounce from that team and the fresh talent required to regenerate just wasn't there and is not there yet. Lots of talent as you say but the few exceptionals yet to fully emerge. For the sake of context I think you might have delved a little further into our semi defeats to Cork and Waterford in preceding years '20 and '21 and perhaps referenced both winning teams trouncings in the subsequent finals by the treaty men. Not a lot of change in our teams in that period or in Lyngs three years thus far in charge. When King Henry more or less missed our drive for five final v Tipp 2010 many would agree as the most accomplished player at that time his loss would be worth probably 5/6 points to the opposition. It probably passed your recall that Cian Lynch HOTY 2021 and the star hurler of that period missed the '22 final and returned with avengence in '23. Just points to consider. You also list our two semi losses in ' 24 and '25 without mention of the narrow margins in each case, the controversial aspect of the '25 loss and the subsequent AI successes of our conquerors in Tipps case last year a facile win over the rebels. So near yet so far. Our team were IMO demoralised by that loss to Tipp,, been decimated by travel and injury and the transition will require quite a bit more time and patience. I return the compliments to your county and wish your teams every success in thecTailteann cup and Joe McDonagh competitions.

Sir Chaz · 14-05-2026 08:28PM

Doyle is an excellent player I'm banging that drum all year. Very well summarised by a few lads already; Savage first touch, strong, good distribution and well able to score when he wants to as we saw with the pressure equaliser Sunday. He should be left there now to gain the confidence he needs to thrive.

20's were impressive I thought without being excellent. If they string 2 good halves together they will take beating. Garrett looks a rolls Royce of a defender. Imperious last night. They seem to be improving every day and the spirit seems excellent judging by players body language on the field. As someone already remarked, it was fantastic to see the management up and down the line, and being so passionate and vociferous. Having the 2 Walsh's there doing water/hurleys, including the great Tommy, is a masterstroke. Their enthusiasm is infectious and they were as eager as management were to encourage and cajole.

First time in Parnell park in a few years, and I hate to say it but it has to be worst county ground in top tier hurling. I know the Dubs have Croke Park to fall back on, but having what may effectively be a Leinster semi final there next week, is an absolute joke.