Kilkenny GAA Thread

We all probably seen the picture from the Limerick dressing room and all agree we aren't in the same physical condition as most of their players I wouldn't say richie doesn't look athletic compared to the other challengers. Chin and finn are in great nick alright but the others are similar to Richie.

Everyone knows the last few performances won't win us a semi final. we've a few weeks to try get a spark into the forwards and the chopping and changing probably isn't helping but after a bad match a player is discarded. Hopefully padraig and donnelly start the next day both are scoring forwards although their form has being patchy.

Wexford and Cork should get through their matches at the weekend especially with only a week for these teams to recover. If clare do suffer these two suspensions they would need to be careful against wexford presuming they get over kerry. Alot of talk about clare meeting Limerick again and maybe they will but we heard that with Waterford a few weeks ago. They could be a hangover or injuries after that epic match Sunday.Wexford are just so inconsistent it's hard to trust them. They draw with galway,lose to Dublin,draw with westmeath and them beat kk at home.There has being little between these two teams and these suspensions could be a distraction lohan won't want. You would imagine there's a bounce in galway after that flat performance Saturday.

Have heard the Pádraig's absence is solely down to analytics. He is in no way injured and according to some of his extended family. I know another veteran who is struggling he's head is completely gone with all the chopping and changing and the lack of communication.

It was great to win a Leinster final and their definitely played a better style of hurling. The backs are doing well I still have my reservations about a few of them and I think a better team could expose a good few of them, I hope not. Midfield is still a huge issue in my opinion, I think Fogarty did an excellent job for a guy who hardly touched the ball but I think the likes of Fitzgerald from Clare or O'Donoghue from Limerick would eat us up there. Forwards were well marshalled against Galway and we'll likely face better so we have a lot to work on for the next 3 weeks.

Hopefully they can keep working on mixing it up going short or long when necessary and not be predictable. It will be very interesting to see how we respond to a more intense pressurised game.

I suppose if you have technology in place you've got to trust it. My own instinct watching P Walsh is that he faded in the forward position after the league run. I love to see him further back the field but time may have run out for him.

Taking 3 or 4 forwards/midfielders off is common practice now by most teams. I guess what management teams are looking for is huge work rate to keep pressure off backs. And then throw in fresh legs.

I personally think Pádraig has to play i would have him in midfield i think he would excel there.

I have a feeling Wexford could beat Clare.

Shane Reck played the 2nd half v Kerry today, they have a full healthy squad to pick from and are hurling well.

Hard to know with Cork v Galway because neither team has any consistent form book to go by.

Me too but I don't think he has the legs.

Its dissapointing to see the back of the weekend papers all writing about the fall out between arguably two of the biggest names in hurling. I'm not going to go on about it because we're all sick of it and dissapointed with the whole thing but we don't like to see this going on in our county. Cody should of being called in before the leinster final and told to nip this In the bud after the match but we all know the county board is full of yes men who are terrified so this wouldn't happen or it wouldn't be listened too. The next question is does this rule Henry out of the kk Job when cody retires and is still knocking around.Brian has huge power and I couldn't see the few yes men going against him even if he is retired.

Although far from a forgone conclusion it will be likely Clare or Cork in the Semi Final. Nothing easy there. It could be Wexford if the 2 under dogs Saturday win but unlikely. Cork and Clare have serious pace

Saturday July 2nd at 5.30pm according to here - https://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/

Given his current trajectory there is, unfortunately, only one place his future lies. When Cody makes up his mind, that's it.

Huw Lawlor is the one of the very best full backs in the game, moving him out of there would be brilliant for the opposition.....Too much moving around doesn't do anyone any favours as they can't settle easily into a position.

Any one have an idea what time the All Ireland Semi final is starting on Saturday July 2nd?

One thing that you can definitely say about Tommy is that the hunger didn't wane. Towards the end of his county career, he did additional training over the winter to try and help his cause but he couldn't stop his body slowing down.