Kilkenny GAA Thread Part 2 **MOD NOTE POST 1***

tbiggertycome wrote: »

Kil. v Dub.
R Reid
P Murphy J Holden B Kennedy
P Walsh K Joyce C Buckley
L hi Ryan D Cody
W Walsh TJ Reid J Maher
JJ Farrell J Power R Hogan
Subs.
A Murphy
J Tyrrell
S Prendergast
C o Shea
J Lyng
C Martin
K Kelly
M Malone
C Bolger
L Blanchfield

Would have liked to see Kevin Kelly get another run, other than that no complaints. Presume Robert Lennon is still injured? Colin Fennelly too?

Im a bit suprised that Darren Brennan (if fit) isnt the sub goalkeeper, I would have thought that he would be first choice for the under 21s this year.

Perhaps Alan Murphy's talent as a forward is a factor in this decision.

Didn't expect to top the group after matchday 1. Toss of a coin for home advantage with Offaly or does the home/away championship rotation stretch to the league?

Given Dublin’s form, I expected a tighter contest but really this match was effectively over in the first half. The Dubs were full of running with this new short style with no ball travelling more than 30-40 m at a stroke. This even saw the goalkeeper receive his own puckout back from the corner back at one stage. The Dubs did come into it in the second half but that was more down to Kilkenny taking their foot off the pedal. In fairness the Dubs didn’t help their cause in that first half with some errant shooting. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare later in the summer when teams catch up on fitness.
As for the cats, Reid was solid in goal and bar one brave save in the second half got little to do. He is a more than competent replacement for Murphy and one wouldn’t have any qualms about him taking over should the need arise. Jackie started instead of Murphy and had a torrid time against Dillon in the first half. Joey was an improvement on last week and was more assured. Kennedy was ok in the other corner but for some reason dropped his hurl at least four times during the game. Walsh and Joyce were the pick of the backs – both got on the scoreboard to boot - with Buckley not far behind. Midfield was all square although McCaffrey was a thorn when he came on. To be fair Lester pitched in with a couple of points. TJ again was majestic especially in the first half when he made a mug out of Rushe. Wally bar a couple of wides was the pick of the rest. He scored three points and was always a threat especially running at the Dubs defence. Richie scored three points but was quiet enough. He really is wasted in the corner and one must presume he’s being left in the corner to be released out the field later in the year. The rest of the forwards Maher, Power and Farrell did very little of note.

blackcard wrote: »

The positives from the league so far have been the form of Tj, Padraig Walsh, our goalkeepers and Conor Fogarty until he got injured. Walter Walsh seems to have improved his consistency and Colin Fennelly showed improved from against Cork.Joyce and Buckley have been decent as well with Lester Ryan making good scoring contributions the last two days.
Dissapointing would be that no new players have really nailed down a starting position with James Maher coming closest. Also of concern is that we didn't get many goals or create a lot of goal chances. I think our team for the championship will be very similar to last year.

I think thats a good summary of things but I would add that Robert Lennon looked very good against Tipp and Diarmuid Cody did enough to justify his place on the panel.

blackcard wrote: »

The positives from the league so far have been the form of Tj, Padraig Walsh, our goalkeepers and Conor Fogarty until he got injured. Walter Walsh seems to have improved his consistency and Colin Fennelly showed improved from against Cork.Joyce and Buckley have been decent as well with Lester Ryan making good scoring contributions the last two days.
Dissapointing would be that no new players have really nailed down a starting position with James Maher coming closest. Also of concern is that we didn't get many goals or create a lot of goal chances. I think our team for the championship will be very similar to last year.

I agree. Lack of goal chances is a worry but i suppose it's ironic that we sit top of the table.

Happy now, especially after the first day out in Walsh Park and how it looked it was going to be a short league season. Credit due to players and management with the way they've pushed on.

Reid a good keep. Full back line under pressure V Cork and hard to know if JT will cement a place. He is a good option.

Half back line is solid with Pádraig and Cillian Buckley on the wings. Pádraig chipping in with a few points also which is good. Cillian not up to top notch yet this season but he's consistent when he gets going. Hopefully he'll start V Offaly in a fortnight. Joyce will start at No. 6 but Lennon, as others have already stated, is worth a look at at No. 6 also. Experience is crucial at 6.

Lester has played well this past 2 games and chipped in with vital scores. Half backs and midfielders need to be chipping in with scores in every game. D Cody has done well in midfield also but will he start come championship time? Good game time experience for him in half back/midfield though.

I think Walter Walsh has ha a good campaign. He's a good target, runs direct and chips in with a few scores. He's more consistent and is actually looking like a senior player and a leader now. Times he's frustrating also but he has developed well in this league campaign.

Maher and Kelly has been in an out of games but they're still learning their trade. They are young and have got chances but more to do.

John Power has come back in recently and maybe he'll get a run of games now and hopefully it'll help his confidence. His workrate needs to improve.

Richie needs a break i think and now the 2 week break will do him no harm if he can rest a wee bit. I'd like to see him float around the midfield/half forward line picking up loose ball and keeping the scoreboard operator a bit busier!!

As for T.J., what a player - gets better and better. Must be averaging 10pts a game. I remember him being taken off early V Tipp in NP (great atmosphere) in 2013. He went away and bulked up and came back the next season like a warrior!!

The question is how much do we depend on him? Can other step up if he's injured or not playing?

I'd like to see what type of score we could run up without him. We have other free takers and it'd be good to see how they'd get on. Time running out to test that theory though!!!

Topcat32 wrote: »

I think thats a good summary of things but I would add that Robert Lennon looked very good against Tipp and Diarmuid Cody did enough to justify his place on the panel.

I think diarmuid Cody has shown that he is an ok hurler an honest hurler; but we have plenty of hurlers that standard in Kilkenny . Only for his name he would not be there. Game passed him by today

I think cody had done ok so far.i think he'll be to slow when the ground gets harder but his being better than I expected so far he hasn't being exposed or anything.john joe tries hard and is a bit of a nuisance but his not tidy enough for this level and worth put enough on the scoreboard

KKCATDownUnder wrote: »

I agree KK1970 , I asked and then stated facts there a few weeks ago after the Waterford game and got " shot down " , but once I suggested the stats , no reply ?

Regardless of what Brian Cody has done in the past 17 years or so IMHO he can still be open to criticism or someone else's opinion . So either his son is going very well in training and deserves his spot on this merit , but to me I haven't seen at game time . He's not on his " Pat Malone " ie... I don't see what JJ Farrell is still doing on the panel either from what I've seen , albeit be it on TV and some attended games .

I too, was shot down when I suggested it was farcical that Diarmuid was starting considering he wasn't playing Fitzgibbon hurling and lads on the bench were and not getting game-time. But I was wrong because I haven't guided kk to 11 All Irelands etc etc.. Alan Murphy , a good hurler, but as someone pointed out earlier, bringing him in as a goalkeeper on no merit is scandalous. Goalies like Duggan and Brennan, trying to master their position are left wondering what more they can do when a forward is brought in as a goalkeeper. People from other counties often say to me it's great that there's no politics involved in kk. I laugh at them. Having said that, Diarmuid hasn't done a whole lot wrong but he's played at a standard that 90% of Senior Club midfielders in kk would play at. I just think it's terrible that BC is not open to criticism! World revolves around him on here from people who don't know the half of what goes on!!!

JJs Left Hand wrote: »

You sound very angry. Were you on the panel and didn't make the cut?

Re yesterdays game: TJ is playing unGodly stuff at the minute. A joy to watch his stickwork. Padraig Walsh is a cracking bet at 50s for HOTY even if defenders do rarely get it - another playing great stuff.

Don't know what to make of Power. There's talent there but everything is too "big". His swing is too long and slow, his handpassing is too easily read and too slow. Don't know how to describe it properly.

I just think it's scandalous that politics is still part and parcel of hurling here. I suppose it's the same in every county.

I don't know what price TJ is but I'd imagine every week the price will get shorter! He's hurling some stuff. A boring prediction but I can't see anyone but TJ or Callinan getting HOTY, depending on who wins the AI!

John is gifted and it's hard for him being compared to his brother so often. He clearly hasn't the class Richie has but he's talented without question. He holds the hurl too far up the handle, should shorten his grip more often.. Wouldn't expect to see him starting later on in the year.

Think Chris Bolger could have a big year yet, would be like Cody to spring him from the bench come Championship, strange that he hasn't got game-time yet!

Yes. I realised that about 2 seconds after I confirmed it. A criminal mistake as a left hand on top man myself.

PáircLife wrote: »

I just think it's scandalous that politics is still part and parcel of hurling here. I suppose it's the same in every county.

I don't know what price TJ is but I'd imagine every week the price will get shorter! He's hurling some stuff. A boring prediction but I can't see anyone but TJ or Callinan getting HOTY, depending on who wins the AI!

John is gifted and it's hard for him being compared to his brother so often. He clearly hasn't the class Richie has but he's talented without question. He holds the hurl too far up the handle, should shorten his grip more often.. Wouldn't expect to see him starting later on in the year.

Think Chris Bolger could have a big year yet, would be like Cody to spring him from the bench come Championship, strange that he hasn't got game-time yet!

Who would you expect to see start instead of John Power, not having a go at what you have said above, just curious to see who will take Ger Aylwards spot. Not much really between Kevin Kelly, James Maher and John Power based on the performances in the league. Can't see Conor Martin or JJ Farell starting and Chris Bolger appears to out of favour a bit.

dastardly00 wrote: »

Based on league so far, if I was to choose our starting team for the championship, this is what I would go for:

E Murphy

P Murphy, J Holden, S Prendergast, P Walsh, K Joyce, C Buckley

C Fogarty, L Ryan

TJ Reid, R Hogan, W Walsh, C Fennelly, J Maher, K Kelly.

I've left Mick Fennelly out intentionally. If he is 'fit', he plays.

How about Eoin Larkin if fit? He came back from Kosovo in great shape.

Topcat32 wrote: »

Who would you expect to see start instead of John Power, not having a go at what you have said above, just curious to see who will take Ger Aylwards spot. Not much really between Kevin Kelly, James Maher and John Power based on the performances in the league. Can't see Conor Martin or JJ Farell starting and Chris Bolger appears to out of favour a bit.

Out of all them forwards I feel Maher has shown the most promise, but is not a corner forward. I can see Wally, Hogan and TJ making up the half line.

If I was to chose a corner forward between Kelly, Power and Bolger it would be Bolger. Wish I could base that on the League but unfortunately we haven't seen him so I'm basing it on their form for Club and County over the last few years. He's a goalscorer and always heads for goal which I love to see. Between Kelly and Power i'd pick Kelly, a confidence player, if his confidence is high he could do anything with a sliotar!!

Makes me think about the bench, I'd be worried with our bench. In comparison to Tipp I feel it is much weaker, Tipp have trialed a lot more players than us in the league so far and many have done very well.. Saying that, we did beat them with an experimental enough side a few weeks ago but their new men are doing well..

for me power and martin dont cut it at this level.power has many attributes but just doesnt put it all in for me.crummy really bullied maher off the ball yesterday and he never got going.like others on here I would like to see bolger get a chance.goal scorer all ends up.also would like to see blanchfield get a chance in the forwards.looked a real talent at minor and should now be looking to push into the team.as it stands for me the championship team would be the same as last year except I PERSONALLY would go for bolger to replace awylard.also have to agree with others that I cant see cody being mobile enough for championship in midfield.(but has done ok in the league)