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

Hesh's Umpire wrote: »

Isn't Railyard football only?

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

The club is football only. The area is Castlecomer, which is not a football stronghold. There's probably not a single player in that club for whom football is their main sport.

Topcat32 wrote: »

I dont think Cody rates Kevin Kelly but I guess we will wont know till June.

The Dickler wrote: »

What in the name of God was Cody looking at yesterday?
From the very start it was obvious that Clare had identified Holden as the weak link, isolated him then ran amok with Joey and Murphy in a blind panic every time the ball was played in.
4 goals later and Cody just standing there like a tool waiting for it all to happen. Serious questions to be answered here?
Was Cusack the mastermind here? Maybe it's time Cody gave him a ring.

mountgomery burns wrote: »

A big man, fairplay to you.

Topcat32 wrote: »

Well if you ask a stupid question...

Michael Kavanagh wrote: »

Is that young Cuddihy lad from the shamrock on it

droppingball wrote: »

Any word on Kieran Joyce injury, seemed to be in a lot of pain leaving the field. It will be interesting to see if he lines out for the rower and also if Jackie/Larkin/the fennellys/fogarty will line out for their clubs.

Just noted over the league how much better Brian Kennedy is attacking the ball, I wouldn't start him but its a noted improvement on previous years. Another thing is that Cillian Buckleys position is half back facing the ball as he is not half as comfortable in the middle of the field, also Clare used the wings so well that his pace there would be a big help there.

Also thought that Jason Cleere would be around the panel this year, wonder would he be worth taking a look at, haven't seen enough of him but could be another good addition.

Sunday had a real feel that we went out to hurl without any real plan, Cody wouldn't let that happen come championship, hoping it will be the turning point of the year and will focus minds for the rest of the year. If anything its opened things up and the summer will be interesting.

tbiggertycome wrote: »

Interesting stats there we've 33 lads who've been used for match day panels. 29 have had playing time and 27 have started a game. I think this is a natural reflection on the fact that there has been a dirth of talent at the U21 grade for the last 3 years. Fortunately that should change this year we should have a very competitive U21 team for the next 3-5 years given the talent coming up behind the last years team. However those guys will need a bit of time to get used to the rigors of senior hurling which is very different to what their used to. Obviously we've seen Blanchfield this year so far but there are many more that are in on the panel which I would hope they will step up to the level after the training they will have had with the lads this year. Sean Morrisey, Jason Cleere, Evan Cody along with many others will need a bit more time before their ready but I would expect one or two to challenge for spots next year.

The game on Sunday was dissappointing if not altogether surprising given the team we had out and who we were missing. How it unfolded and some of the decisions made and tactics emplyed on both sides I wouldn't have expected.

There were a couple of things that I believe were the winning of the game for Clare and they all stemmed from the goals and our inability to win any ball in the forwards in the first 20mins or so. What I noticed within a few minutes of the start of the game was our forwards were winning no aerial ball sent into them. The reason they weren't is that the Clare marker was solely trying to put our lad off winning the ball. In effect what they did was very clever and was the dark arts of the defending that Donal Og rallied against in all his time on the Sunday game a bit hypocritical but they were there to win the game and it worked out will for them. What I noticed was just as our lads were about to jump so the legs were bent and they were about to spring up the Clare marker would step across the Kilkenny lad or into his back. TJ Walter Richie or any of the others then had to correct their balance but never got off the ground losing the vast majority of the aerial ball. This has very evidently been coached into the Clare lads as If it happened the odd time or just one defender was doing it I could say it's just an accident or his style but they were all at it and more power to them they utilised it perfectly. I wouldn't be sure if it's breaking any rules but it definitely fells like it is and to be honest I know if Kilkenny did it we'd be blown up for it and I suppose for me that was a major difference the ref let that go and to be honest he left all the roughing up as well I saw Bugler with TJ in a head lock twice in the first 15 mins off the ball. I've no issue with the rough stuff as our lads are well able for it and they need to get stronger and time their aerial challenges better to combat this tactic and it is a tactic especially if we're not going to get a free for it.

With all the ball coming straight back down on the defence we were always going to be under huge pressure there and while we were consceding points we were doing alright. Then Murphy had a rush of blood to the head and charged out for the first goal he didn't bat the ball far enough or catch the ball if he wasn't going to do that he should have stayed on his line. The second goal I would normally expect Murphy to stop as well as Cunningham was a fair bit out and he basically hit it straight at Murphy. Again the third goal Murphy should have stayed on his line and the ball could have been dealt with. I don't like being so hard on Murphy because I think he's an excellent keeper and usually makes all the right calls when to come when to stay. Murphy's confidence was shot after the second goal he hit a puckout directly over the sideline. We started out with Jackie as the spare man and he picked up a lot of ball in the first ten mins after the first goal or second goal I'mm not sure when exactly Padraig Walsh was told to be the free man and he was pushing up something fierce and we weren't making much more head way up front but were leaking loads more at the back once he moved off the half back line. Clare were moving their forwards all over the place and we tried to play a bit of zonal and some man marking by the looks of it in the first half and as a result players were getting free of markers all over the place. It's the most confused I've ever seen Kilkenny defence play in that first half. I thought we did much better in defence once the normal half back line was resumed in the second half. We also started to win a few more balls up front. To be honest I wouldn't be to worried for the Championship, obviously our panel is tight on talent at the minute we've the best 15 and 2 or 3 others on the bench and some great talent but most of it is 19 to 20 or younger so we'll have to bridge this gap over the next year or two until the younger lads are ready to push through. Once they start coming I would see lads like Conor Martin, Joe Lyng, Conor O'Shea, Michael Malone, John Power, Jojoe Farrell, Diarmuid Cody and Brian Kennedy all struggling to get a spot even Kevin Kelly could be in that bunch if he doesn't toughen up.

Performances from Sunday rated
Eoin Murphy- 3- worst I've ever seen from him but he'll be back
Jackie Tyrrell- 6- I don't think Jackie was as bad as many seem to on here I was watching him closely until he went off and until he pulled the hammy I thought he was doin ok. Peope seem to be looking at him and no matter what he does or doesn't do they just have it in their heads he's past it. He may well be but I haven't seen proof of it yet.
Brian Kennedy- 6- struggled to get on the ball but did ok when he came in
Joey Houlden- 6- I actually think he did ok given how much the defence was in disarray and having Murphy run into him for 2 of the goals.
Shane Prendergast -5- saw very little of him and he got on very little ball.
Padraig Walsh -6- he ran al over and as alway I'd give him 10 for effort but a huge amount of his effort was fruitless.
Kieran Joyce -7- stood up well in my opinion and did as much as possible given the acres of room eitherside of him particularly in the first half.
Conor O'Shea -4- really struggled and was led all over the field how he was left on so long I'll never know I honestly can think of only one time he touched the ball.
Lester Ryan -7- did as well as could be expected in the circumstances and helped out massively all over the field he's form this league has been superb.
Cillian Buckley -6- he was a bit lost in the first half looked far more comfortable in the second half at half back
Walter Walsh -6- tried reall hard very little came off for him but he caused them lots of trouble just not enough of it ended up with scores
TJ Reid -7- even given how he was shackeled he still tried his heart out and was driving the lads on he's a definite leader now as well
Kevin Kelly -5- thought he was very quite you'd struggle to know he was even playing at times couldn't get on the ball and when he did very little came of it other than a turn over
Richie Hogan -6- just about a 6 like all the lads under huge pressure but not enough end product
JJ Farrell -8- was the one forward who looked happy that Clare were playing the way physical way they were, he loved it had had he's best game for Kilkenny unfortunately not enough ball went into him
J Power -7- I know he scored very little and should have done more but firstly he was actually catching balls and he was throwing himself around a bit and won two frees as well. when other couldn't win aerial ball he did for once.

I think the 3 league games with the clubs now will refresh the lads and we'll be in fine shape for the championship providing we can get 3 or 4 lads back.