Kilkenny GAA Thread

I think it is far better for senior success to have an outstanding group for a 2-3 period at minor to backbone a team (Limerick and Waterford senior teams are essentially stacked with players from 2013/2014 minor teams) than to be producing consistently good teams.

The Limerick team now picks itself, largely drawn from an outstanding group of underage 2014-2017. Unlike Galway, no selection headaches, no pressure to try a dozen different lads with AI minor medals. In some respects Galway's consistent success at minor brings problems. However I would not agree that Galway win minors simply by churning out big agricultural hurlers. Yes, they usually have the edge in size, but they have produced some terrific hurlers in recent years. We werent just out matched physically in a few recent underage losses to Galway, we were frequently out hurled (as were every other county in 2018-2020 minor especially)

The outstanding Offaly minor teams 86-89 essentailly made the picking of Offaly senior teams in 90s a doddle, it picked itself.

I do believe the moves to 17 and 20 have devalued the competitions (we will never see 30k at u20 finals like we did with 21s late 80s and early 90s), but also feel they will prove even less relaible than U18 and U21 did in predicting senior success.

I did say pretty much..which leaves wiggle room 😁Those named above made up for lack of size with.an abundance 0f.the other qualities.. I'd.say richie Hogan for.one doesn't lack strength either.

Cha Fitzpatrick was another small man who was a fantastic hurler

Am I dreaming or did damien lawlor write a book after 2013 saying the modern county hurler will be 5.10 mobile wristy and a teacher..

Looking on boards.ie every county bar limerick think they are miles.off..in the dark ages etc etc

This too shall pass

Reading alot of posts here over the last few weeks here and player development is mentioned alot from underage. Our two development officers Brian Ryan and PJ Ryan haven't been mentioned in these discussions.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but are these two in full time paid positions. I've been involved with my club at underage for the last 14 plus years and we had one, max 2 visits in that time. What exactly are their roles in all this "development".

Surely their wages just be justified by visiting clubs regularly to give teams and coaches up-to-date drills, strategies and advice to us part time coaches rather than just token visits to schools a couple of times a year.

Also, our club put our name forward to some initiative from leinster council about part sharing with other clubs a qualified GAA coach to work with 2-4 clubs locally throughout the year. Haven't heard diddly squat since

Cant help you with your first couple of questions on what Brian Ryan or PJ Ryan do but I know in relation to the hiring of the coaches Croke Park currently have an embargo on any new hires (I think because of Covid, but sure) and the county board were waiting for the embargo to be lifted before the recruitment process can begin.

What do they do in Wexford?

Yes eana Martin is commercial manager in wexford. carrickshock current player

I have probably got this wrong but it looks to me that after the third round of matches are played in Section B of the league, The Rower has to play Ballyhale and Lisdowney but Ballyhale and Lisdowney have also to play each other. Bennettsbridge has to play James Stephens and Tullaroan who also have to play each other. That would mean that you couldn't have the final 3 matches in round 5 on the same day? Is this correct?

Similar scenario in Section A?

Wexford GAA employ a Games Development Manager(GDM) and 3/4 Games Administrators (GDA's) and of those one is a fulltime office based. These positions are fulltime, funded by Leinster /Croke Park

There are (not sure how many) Games Promotions Officers. These are funded by the club they are attached to, by the County Board and by the GAA under the East Leinster Coaching model (similar to Dublin, Westmeath, Carlow, Meath).

They do not coach in post primary schools, only the primary schools in the clubs catchment area. The GPO's are primary schools almost exclusively.

Some clubs share a GPO, thereby reducing costs.

Wexford GAA also run a Community Employment Schools Coaching Scheme. That has been going for many years.

As regards GDO,s in wexford. They are funded by the clubs and subsidised by Croke Park. County Board have no real input into them. In most cases clubs split the cost between 2 or 3 of them. Bigger clubs can afford their own. The cost is not cheap.

Talks of this starting in kilkenny in 2022 with some clubs expressing an interest. Croke Park have been down at county board meetings and met with clubs to sell this.

Wexford have been at this a few years now. We can't say we've seen a drastic improvement in them at minor level but still early days. I think the benefit in them is getting good structured supports for coaches at nursery level ie u7 to u12 to really develop the basic skills

After watching club hurling and Waterford coaches showing us how to hurl Cody must go

Glenmore will win intermediate handy , there coming with a serious team

Thomastown had a relatively comfortable win over Gowran this evening. I wasn't blown away by either team to be honest, a lot of scores coming from frees. Good to see a referee blowing for steps and a couple of thrown passes. John Donnelly played a lot of the game in midfield. To some limited extent both sides tried not to lump ball to the forwards but still work in progress

I was at this game also.

Gowran struggled to keep possession from their puck out, gave away a lot of frees, and didnt make much use of their full forward line.

Thomastown played a nice fast passing game, Half back line dominated and took their scores with ease.

Always looked in control.

Also at match, thomastown had this game won early, hurled against the breeze in first half and were well on top but only scored 6 points in the second half with the breeze. Surprising that they didn't push on more. Surely something Henry will want to address. When they got there passing going they look like a good team but it broke down a lot. They could probably score more from distance as well and have the hurlers to do that. They have the firepower it is about consistency and the hunger now

Henry has made some positive changes on the backs and midfield area and they closed down gowran when they ran down the middle quite well.

Gowran seem to be short a real danger man inside to really worry teams but they are a decent team and won't go down without a fight.

You have to love having the club action back, we are blessed to have such competitive hardly fought games in Kilkenny at all grades. When you see that ballyragget slid from senior to junior and tullogher finding it tough going in junior and danesfort yesterday in intermediate as well. It is cut throat and great to see surprises happening, mullinavat written off last week and beat o loughlins this week.