Kilkenny GAA Thread

This is just childish. Top 5? Second best in the country based on the last two seasons. Nobody arguing that anyone other than Limerick is numero uno for now. 2022 final was a goal away from being turned on its head - and 2023 final - good as Limerick were Kilkenny were still within 3 points on the 60 minute mark. Not sure how long you've been watching hurling but Kilkenny have always had a knack of keeping in touch when the other team is on top only to strike a killer blow down the home stretch. (Recent example - Leinster final)

We all know this is not a great Kilkenny team by their standards but despite that they still had about as good a 2023 as they could have expected. Leinster champions and another crack at Limerick in the final would have been deemed acceptable pre championship.

It's just pure silly be sewing it into them at the moment. They'll be back winning All-Irelands soon and I would always have felt Kilkenny to be more gracious than most when things are going well. Before long this core group of Limerick players will all be the wrong side of 30, hopefully then we won't have outsiders popping into the Limerick thread telling us to 'get real'.

Maybe it’s because Dicksboro dominated the U19 setup.

Great result for OLG, Paddy Deegan outstanding. Don't think they have the firepower from midfield up. to go all the way. Conor Heary making a contribution but needs to score more

Great win for OLG.

Paddy Deegan 5pts from play, simply outstanding.

Still, if a fully fit Donal Burke was playing for Na Fianna tonight, that cup was heading a few mins up the road to North Dublin tonight you’d imagine.

Nothing between the two teams.

Maybe midfield for Paddy. OLG should have Huw, Mikey Paddy and Conor Heary in the squad for next year. Other possibilities are Jordon Molloy, David Fogarty and Owen Wall. Not sure the latter 3 have quite what it takes but think they should be given a shot in the extended squad

Well Huw, Mikey, Paddy and Heary were all there last year and haven't been dropped as far as I'm aware, Molloy and Wall definitely in there for the coming year. Well done to OLG they dug it out well but they will need to figure out a way to get more out of their forwards if their to take the crown in Jan.

A fully fit Donal Burke would have been fully marked out of it by Mikey Butler

Four of the O'Loughlins starting forwards failed to score, Heary got 1, Bergin 2 from play and sub Luke Hogan 1. It is a problem area.

Donal Burke scored 0-10 (3pts from play) v KK in Leinster champ this year.

There is no doubt he would have been very influential in Croke Park yesterday but it’s all ifs and buts.

OLG won fair and square.

There is an All Ireland final spot for OLG there if they keep focused v Cushendall.

There is talk of it been fixed for Newry on Saturday the 16th.

Talking to a few clubmen at the weekend and the general opinion there was that there isn't room for U19 in the calendar so we're better going back to the even numbers to have one less age grade competing for what was already a squeezed calendar.

One other plus for change I can see is to delay competitive hurling for young lads to U14. On the flip side of course is that it will prove a challenge to the county U14 development squad selection as they will no longer be able to rely on taking players from the U13 teams at the end of that season.

Vote is tonight and the consensus appears to be for change but I don't think it's as straightforward as some people seem to think so it could be an interesting night ahead.

Is it true Ned Quinn is getting to club representatives to keep the status quo even though clubs are sending up representatives to vote for change. Hardly a secret ballot? Very interesting night ahead

If it's secret ballot clubs won't know for sure if their county board reps voted as instructed. Open vote should be voted on first.

The backs were seriously under pressure , particularly in the first half when they stood off the Na Fianna forwards and allowed them run through them. Even H Lawlor was playing second best to his opponent.

Of course it was a good win. My post was mainly trying to understand why 5 potential Kilkenny panel members could be under such pressure. They were under similar pressure against the Bridge and but for the goalkeepers marvellous saves they were gone.

Confirmation that the age grades have changed.

I thought part of the problem was that the OLG forwards and midfielders were not able to hold on to the ball during certain periods and the ball was being returned as quickly as it was being cleared