Kilkenny GAA Thread

They have proven over the last 6/7 years they are a better team than Kilkenny, I don't know why they cant replicate these performances against other teams but because they regularly beat us does not make them a dirty team.

They have been more effective at exploiting our tactical weakness and inherent lack of efficiency/intelligence in terms of playing style - particularly around sweepers. Over the course of a championship you win nothing with this style but in a single match, especially against Kilkenny it's always pretty effective. We don't have the calibre of players we had for the previous 15 years and as a result it comes down to making the best out of what we do have in these armwrestle matches - and we haven't been great at that and the players themselves have struggled with any change. Last year for instance we made a hero out of their sweeper - 6 years after they first deployed it against us.

Yesterday in the second half we didn't have the pace to work the ball out, and when we went long it was ran back at us through a struggling midfield and half forward line that was struggling athletically against a team fuelled by desperation. So a turnover was a point of attack yesterday for Wexford (as it has been for the last few years), and we ceded that by deploying an ineffective sweeper ourselves and not deploying pace to counter this pattern. The injuries obviously stretched us but I'm not so sure we still wouldn't end up with the same issues - albeit we might have put the game to bed in the first half.

And still we had the ball in the net at the end to almost win it.

All this is opinion from what I saw and sensed at the time - I'd love to check it out again with a viewing of the game but alas...

Judging by today’s opinion this is not the first time the match was put back it also happened in 2019 when all other matches counted on the last day , but this time the massive crowd wasn’t there . So what was the reason for the delay and this had to be agreed by the ref. They were also late back out on the pitch for the second half the GAA was talking about winning at all costs,well this smacks of cheating along with the ref siding with the home side. There’s one thing I hate and that’s not getting fair play. Last year that ref done us up in Salthill in what he deemed was a foul by Paddy Deegan. He gave Galway a last minute free to go a point up and never gave us a chance to even it up he just blew for the puck out. At least in Limerick v Cork game the ref. Allowed time to see how Corks last puck out developed and only blew when they lost possession.

Adrian looks to be out for 4-6 weeks so he's a huge loss obviously. Management are hoping butler and mossy will be back. Butler with a calf injury and mossy with hamstring. Mossy came off without really doing massive harm.Richie and deegan were more precautionary not playing

So thats where we are heading into a leinster final. Richie Reid and deegan were big losses yesterday so both will be a help the next day. I was dissapointing Carey wasn't thrown in yesterday. I think he will have to come Into wing back and give us legs. Tom phelan has being a positive. Good in the air and direct. Very green still obviously. Drennan found the going very tough but hopefully he will get used to pace of the game.

Losing Mullen is a massive blow and it means another reshuffle to our already problematic midfield pairing. You'd imagine Deegan will start their in the Leinster final but it's worrying that we don't have a ready made replacement for Mullen. The only positives from Sunday is the fact we scored 5 goals and the performance of Tom Phelan who looks to be in great form at the minute. We looked like we could cut Wexford apart at will at times on Sunday but for some reason didn't do it enough. The balls into the forwards and puckouts left a lot to be desired also. Both teams going into the Leinster final after 2 poor performances and we are going to need everyone fit and well to have a chance of winning that game. Am I right in saying that if we lose we will be playing Tipp (or Offaly) in the quarter final? Also really surprised that management haven't tried to get game time into Mikey Carey, Sunday was the perfect chance to give him hurling. As I think someone said earlier we cannot afford to be finishing games with Buckley, P Walsh, Fogarty and Wally on the pitch especially now that TJ's legs aren't what they used to be, we're going to need younger legs to finish these games and help us over the line, which is something we've struggled to do recently.

Joe Cooney isn't particularly slow and it's unlikely Glennon will be seen as a starter. It'll be a battle of two very average outfits it seems.

Last year Dublin didn't show up, Galway were poor on the day, Clare were knackered and Kilkenny went on to run Limerick close. We only got credit following our display in the Final.

The examiner confirmed that Wexford gardai did not advise the Wexford co. Board to delay the game because of traffic congestion. So who is going to take up this investigation or are our co. Board going to do anything about it. At least tell them we were unhappy with the situation.

He was desperate and has had a clear and obvious bias against us down through the years. There were numerous incidents in the game the other day in which he interjected himself and his own little ego into the occasion/decision. Doesn't look like he has thr fitness or condition for this level either - if he passes the fitness test then the guys that fail it can have no complaints really.

The high tackle on Blanchfiekd that went unpunished and ended up bring blown for a few the other way before half time was another shocker in addition to the goal decision. On the go he was 100% going to blow for a free out there, no matter what happened. You knew this as you were watching it unfold. Wasn't able to cope with the crowd or occasion.

Now Brookville as you said on the bigger issue with Colm Lyons this was the biggest issue of all that the matches did not run in sync this had to have been approved by the ref to delay the match.as I said previously sanctions should be brought to bear on the Wexford co. Board especially after doing the same stunt before and lave it alone to the “98 rebellion pageantry “ would the singer have had time to sing all verses of boolavogue in normal time

That's farcical tbh, there's still loads of time to play the final without it effecting the hurling. Even just have put it back to this weekend.

They couldn't refix it as they gave Thomastown a walkover last year when Carrickshock didn't play.

County board have a spine like spaghetti. Heard mullinavat threatened to pull county players from the panel if they weren’t awarded the game. Sad state of affairs when a senior county final is won by walk over

I believe thomastown had a wedding the weekend of the game and then mullinvat might have had a wedding the following 2 weekends so if it was off for Thomastown for that reason it was going to be off the following 2 weeks as well and dragging on and on. There was nearly a month of a gap between football league and start of championship this year which there was no need for. Weather was good they should have stayed playing it.

Sad state of affairs when a senior final ends this way.

Big match for kk and galway sunday week. It's probably a bigger game for galway they haven't won a leinster since 2018. The direct route to a semi final is the best route. Teams can really get alot of work done in them few weeks and try clear up a few injuries. Munster teams are definitely that bit leggy after coming through a tough campaign.

Both teams had a fair idea they would be in the leinster final before a ball was struck.it was all about navigating their way through the group stages.They didn't need to be peaking a month ago it's the next few weeks the season will begin and teams be judged. We had being lucky enough with injuries up to last sunday where we got riddled. Richie Reid and deegan will be available and I know people give out about both but both were big losses last weekend. They're hoping the other two lads will make it but Adrian is a big loss.

We are now in the month of June and I've no doubt management haven't a bulls clue of their best team which is worrying. moving deegan out of defence and tom phelan starting will be the only changes to last years leinster final.Last sunday was ideal for Mikey Carey to get gametime. It would be a big ask throwing him into a leinster final. Our backs definitely aren't going as well this year. Was it the league final hammering or the couple of goals against antrim but usually a high ball was bread and butter to Lawlor and these lads but they don't look comfortable. We're back to a couple of defenders foing fir the one ball. It happened against galway in the park aswell.How management didn't try make a change with chin running riot would also be a concern. At least try something. The whole place could see he was going to town.

Management will obviously be given Time it's a huge step up but they have being very niave, slow to make changes and definitely have being to loyal to the older lads. The league final tactics were bizarre to say the least.,especially when everyone knows the best chance of competing with them is pushing up. We ran away from them.Dont know what happened Cian Kenny,he seems to have being punished for giving away a few scores against galway.Alan Murphy played well against antrim and is dropped. Billy Ryan was criminal for one of McGoverns goal.Took to much out of the ball and overturned. A few of these lads know their position is safe and need a kick up the arse.Padriag was the cause of another goal and isn't comfortable at 6.Infairnes to Tom phelan he has being very good the last few days but this is a big test against galway.he has a good hand and is direct.We will see a new midfield pairing again with Paddy deegan.

I'm not slating the older lads but these are the facts. Fogarty,Wally,buckley and padriag are first subs on. I'd be very suprised if all these don't retire in a few months.Surely it's better blooding lads last sunday and looking at the bigger picture.Dee o Keefe couldn't believe his luck again last sunday with the ball he was getting. It was so predictable.We can't afford to finish with all these we need legs.

Both teams can pick plenty of holes in each other. Whelan and Cooney have being poor.Dublin pulled galways half back line out and used their speed to run with the ball and gmac was vulnerable We havent the speed of dublin but we will want to get mossy and eoin Cody isolated inside but no point having them isolated if the ball going in is a bad.