Kilkenny GAA Thread

Is Joe Dowling underage next year? The problem with the players you mentioned are they are mainly from 2 clubs and they have a bad record at getting them through at their own club never mind Kilkenny, I see it in my own club. With all the supposed talent we have we will be doing well to get out of Intermediate

Id be fearful for the half back line for the 20s if they line up like that. Surely make more sense to have barcoe at 6? Dollard just wants to do the flashy stuff.

I dont think that team will start as there are 1 or maybe two injuries but it will be balanced out if Niland is out for Galway. I agree on Dollard not being a proper 6 and putting in Barcoe or Evan Murphy in there as Dollard does not want to mark anyone and wants to be the loose player all the time.

No I didn't expect them to win Marooned. I thought from the day in Nowlan Park that Galway looked a higher quality and better coached team than us, and as someone else pointed out, our forwards were being far too individualistic. We didn't seem to progress much since then although obviously the Dublin win was a better performance. Fact that Westmeath had beaten them though maybe devalued that form a bit I felt. Then Galway annihilated Wexford which, along with the prevailing opinion about this team, and our almost complete reliance on one forward, led me to believe it would be a huge challenge.

Fair play to them the attitude was absolutely spot on last night, and the effort was unquestionable. I'd still maintain we lacked a bit of basic game management when we went so far ahead, and that comes down to the line, but the flip side of that is they clearly deserve credit for the lads attitude and vastly improved performance up to that.
Substituting those 2 key players was puzzling also but maybe there was cramp or injury, I don't know. Someone said about Paddy Grace being on a yellow but there was other 2 defenders on yellows for far longer, and only 6 or 7 mins left so that doesn't add up. His replacement also did well I thought so not a huge deal either way.

Anyway, merely gentle observations rather than criticism. These games take on a life of their own and are very difficult to manage in real time. I'm a lot more optimistic about this group than I would have been before last night and hopefully they'll carry that form through to a quarter final now.

Niland isn't named on panel. Rabbitte not starting either based on team they announced. Cullen Killeen is only senior panellist on starting 15.

Is that not his role though that’s how he played for the minors club and county

the day of reckoning is upon us. Best of luck to Henry and the lads, it would be great to win it.

Thats fine if the other team play a sweeper which is now rare and allows him a free role. His other roles as a 6 are to also defend and pick up the centre forward when he comes in on him and he does not do that.

Without Rabbitte and and Niland its advantage Kilkenny. The 2 goals before half time cost us last day. Best of luck to all

8/4 in boyles is a great price for the u20s

We have only 24 named on our panel out of 26 😉

Be a bit of silly buggers if Niland lines out after not being in squad, but this Galway management have form for that. They did similar for the last game, named both seniors and then didn't start either with Niland not even togged.

From a Kilkenny point of view I genuinely hope both start. As marooned said, the task can end up even harder if star players are out as the opposition always raise their game and complacency can creep into the other team. A Kilkenny win against a full strength Galway would be great prep for a final as well against a strong Clare side.

100 percent agree with you my point is are management wanting him to be a free man I think it’s part of the teams game plan to have him free as in management aren’t asking him to mark a man

I know what your saying but I would be disappointed if that was or is the case as effectively he is a sweeper then. I would understand doing it if Niland and Rabbite are playing but it then puts pressure of our forwards to win their own ball. Hopefully the weather stays fine and we can get the result on our side.

It's the match today available to watch anywhere? Not seeing it on tg4 YouTube or gaaplus, would have assumed tg4 are showing it