Kilkenny GAA Thread

Tullaroan had a deserved win over a poor Castlecomer side. They had 10 different scorers but the concession of 4 goals made it tighter than it should have been. Padraig Walsh had some spectacular catches in a half back line that dominated. Apart from Jack Buggy, the Comer forward line struggled. They will also be disappointed with Conor Delaney and Michael Murphy in particular. John Walton chipped in with some good scores. I would give Tullaroan a chance against Clara and Comer have to be concerned about relegation.

17 wides meant that Clara came up short against the Bridge who will need all their injured players back to have any chance against Shamrocks. David Blanchfield, Liam Blanchfield and Willie Murphy were best for the Bridge. Liam Ryan did well for Clara whilst Chris Bolger had a very good first half. Overall Clara looked the better team

What was Pat Hartley up to

Junior draw

I am reading this the last 24 hours and as a neutral at the match the Maroon keyboard warriors need to move on. Firstly what a game of hurling one of the best underage games I have witnessed in 10/15 year and that was hugely contributed to by Paul Cahill as referee, there was big hits both sides(fair) and he let the game flow. Tullogher/Rosbercon can be very proud of there effort, I have witnessed so called big clubs play Dicksboro over the years(including my own) and just fold at the sight of the names or jerseys. As for Harry Shine he was well marshalled by an outstanding centre back for Tullogher who maybe got a couple of points himself, he caught a ball over Shine under the new stand in his own half back line and put it straight back over the bar.(worth my 10euro entrance fee). Shine did pick up a few handy points handed out to him in the first half. Tullogher players and management(one in particular) did not allow him to drift into space free and pick up loose ball, always had bodies ready to track him, and Harry did not like this. Dicksboro had 3/4 players better than Shine on the day, both midfielders, Hackett and Keenan were pacey and good on the ball, Matthey Kelleher was contender for Man of the match, he was the go to man for Dicksboro, they brought on Raggett as a sub and he was another handful. Tullogher had 3/4 heroic performers, there is electricity in the air when Glennon gets on the ball. Very direct and a player to watch going forward. Lar and Marty Murphy were outstanding and there ability to win primary possession is something I have not seen in Kilkenny underage hurling in a long time.

On another not there was some outstanding individual performances from players mentioned above particular Kelleher for the Boro and Murphy centre back for Tullogher, Hackett midfield for Dicksboro who were not on the Kilkenny Minor team this year. Leaves me asking serious questions about Kilkenny Minor management team last few years, clearly all the best players were not on the pitch

Very unlucky Lisdowney yesterday. They are proving a hard team to beat. Hopefully they can stay up. Comer are going dreadful. They are under serious pressure to avoid relegation. Is all not right with Fogarty and the players?

From what I heard Adrian's issue is a cut and infection rather than broken but I could be wrong.

Is this in regards to the U13 final at the weekend? I heard there was an "incident" between 2 umpires.

That Dunmore is an awful place for a match nevermind a County Final. Was talking to a Co Board rep a few weeks back at a match in Callan. He said they aimed to have all underage finals bar minor in Dunmore. As if it's a grounds to be proud of.....pitches back to back are a joke along with parking and exiting. Keep it for Development squads and challenge matches.

Plenty of good club grounds in the County if Nowlan Park unavailable far superior to Dunmore.

Umpire issue is not acceptable for a Co.Final for sure. If matches were outside of Dunmore surely the host club could provide an umpire or two if referee was let down at last minute.

Slightly off topic here but I was talking to a guy who was at the u13 match and he was impressed with the standard on show and he was optimistic about the future.How did we get on with our improved development squads this year?ciarian muldowney definitely had good ideas and former players were getting on board.We have being very slow to react to this.The stats don't lie It's 2014 since minor and 2008 since u21.Its now 2021 and we are only reacting.We were stuck in a time zone and we needed to look at what galway or cork recently have done at underage.

Waterford and clare have gone back to basics and putting plans in place.Cork really got their act together and are coming.Our neighbours in offally and wexford have being putting in the hard work.The gym in kierans will hopefully be a help because particularly at u20 we have being blown away.Mick dempsey was recently appointed a director of some sorts.What will his role be?

It was interesting to hear Stephen o keefe won't be returning to the Waterford panel and is happy enough to bow out quietly.Do we expect Colin fennelly to return next year?I expect a few retirements.Ive went to a good few club matches the last few weeks and the standard is still very high.Some teams are adapting better to the modern game.Bennetsbridges season hinges on Sundays match with the shamrocks. The winners of the kk championship will face conor phelans mount leinster rangers.

This is very disappointing.I know it might take a little time to get things off the ground but that sounds very poor.i thought with the bit of noise highlighting our lack of success or our acceptance to be happy to be just competing that people in power might get together with a positive plan or maybe go outside the county for a template.It doesn't suprise me and unfortunately.

Can someone tell me what is mick dempseys new role?

Any update on when/if the potential under 19/under 20 or Under 21 competitions will be played?

I see the county board are starting to form an under 17 panel for next yr. Calling in 5 from each club including next yrs under 16s.

Looking forward to a bumper Sunday of action today, great spread of games.

Only saw the intermediate league final yesterday, think it might be time to scrap the league finals. Eoin Murphy didn't start for glenmore and they made two subs in the first half. Thomastown made 4 changes from start including John Donnolly and Jonjo and took off a few important players as well.

Senior was the same the week before, it is a nuisance to clubs at this stage, it would be one thing if it was two weeks out but week before makes it pointless. As for the shield final totally pointless.

Are all the draws on tonight or tomorrow night does anyone know?

The draws are this evening and agree that the league finals are a waste of time.I think carrickshock picked up a few injuries in the shield final

I also went to the olg match and thought they were better and just found it hard to finish the match against a stubborn Vegas side who were missing a few important players.Mark bergin had two good goal chances hit nearly identical at the keeper.I thought Robbie Buckley was very good when he came on and paddy deegan was a constant threat bringing others into the game.

Skeough beating windgap must go down as a surprise.Fenians done it again yesterday against a fancied dunnamaggin side.Tullogher had a fine win over ballyragget

Extra time in Tullaroan/Clara,

Mossy was running through in last min went for goal but should have thrown over the bar.

The way I'd put it is do Bennettsbridge give a damn right now that there league champions.

Must be sickened alright. It's long overdue time to do away with League & Shield Finals. Teams are only interested in, and will only be recognised for, Championship success . If Co Board don't make a move would any club be bold enough to just give a Walkover? Asking them to play effectively a challenge a week before Championship quarter-final is just crazy.

Referring decisions cost the boro today.

1 Bill Sheehan’s effort for goal in the first half , Ref gave advantage and when he put his shot wide no free in was given.

2 Andy Gaffney taken down with a head high tackle (could have been a red card ) Shane Stapleton through for goal , no advantage given.

3 free blown for the village before they got the goal , goal was given.

consistancy?

anyway not the villages fault, I congratulate them on their win.

If you're going to start analysing the ref in the first game then it's going to be a long list and the Village will have plenty to be aggrieved about as well. He didn't favour either team in my opinion. He tried to let the game flow and it just became a bit of a mess

What do u know about refferring in kilkenny.what do u know about criteria in kilkenny.what do know about refs in kilkenny in regards to what makes an intercounty ref and how that relates to a club ref.did it ever occur to u that the referees are by far the most let down organisation in kilkenny by the county board.did u ever ask a referee how its run within the county or the difficulties they face #blame the ref because it covers up all ills

Was up in Thomastown last weekend at the OLG and Rower game and I thought the Rower would give them enough of it but they were completely outplayed. Lots of people I talked too earlier in the year picked the rower to go down and I can see why. Joe Lyng at 14 and Joyce at 3 look like lads that never played at a high level before even if they were hung out to dry. I’ve heard plenty of bad things about their management too so I fear for them. The only positive I took from that game was that that the 3 county lads were very big and obvious to pick out. Leahy was class at 12 the decision to move him to midfield was very strange. He hit 2 unreal scores and caught 4/5 balls and looked like his old self, confident and direct but not running into trouble. Paddy Deegan very good on the day playing in the forwards. OLG were very good on the day and backed it up with a good win yesterday.

Sadly the only senior game I saw today was the Ballyhale one. I think one Mullen played maybe? I couldn’t hear the commentary. Whatever anyone says about Colin Fennelly as a county hurler he is an absolutely brilliant club hurler, like Richie Reid and Joey Holden and I’d love to see him back in this year. He’ll be remembered as an extremely underrated hurler, even with KK was an absolutely workhorse when he was younger and always chipped in, apparently hard to handle too so I don’t know really. TJ’s position is prob FF,his skill and work rate and giving the ball to the best lad in the right position is second to none, what a hurler what teammate. I thought BB had a right chance today myself. If Ballyhale win the semi final they’ll win it out but it won’t be easy but as someone mentioned they’ve clutch players all over and know how to win and yet to be at 100%, typical!. With that being said James Stephans are the team to beat them and will give them everything like last year.

is that 3 league finals in a row for Thomastown does anyone know? I think their much better than glenmore but I thought the same last year. Glenmore have serious players but dropping Alan murphy from the frees was very silly. Not sure if true but somebody told me Thomastwon beat the Rapps the week before the Wexford county senior final, any truth in that does anybody know? Enjoying all grades this year, heard today Walter was back in the half back line/half sweeping for Tullagher the weekend. Big win for them as they were struggling. Love the club hurling.

Referees course is a 3 night course and then county board start appointing them to games.there is a rules test once a Yr and a fitness test that can't be failed.that is a system set up to fail.quick suggestions would be group training sessions and a buddy system were new refs would be helped for a Yr by a ref with 5yrs experience or more.fed back to refs from appropriate person on performance in a match not some one going to a cc meeting and slating refs after watching there own club

Genuine question here (as you seem to be involved in refereeing). Why does it take so long for promising referees to get the bigger games? We had John Mulhall as referee at an underage game over 3 years ago and he is still the best referee we had in any game. I was expecting that by now he would be refereeing adult matches but all I've seen of him this year was doing the line at a Junior match. To me someone like that has all the attributes to make a good ref (played the game, knows the players, is as fit as most players and talks as he refs) so why does it take so long to promote him?

In the meantime we have referees still taking charge of underage games where he previously refereed underage games that the coaches played in!