Kilkenny GAA Thread

well that’s good to hear that people are concerned. And it doesn’t come down to personality’s this is all down to concern for the wellbeing of KK hurling. We cannot keep rewarding failure.

well reality should be starting to bite now. All the people I know are not happy with the whole situation it’s really all down to the upper echelons of the county board who are of the opinion what would the rest of them know and they obviously haven’t their ear to the ground like had Mick Fennelly no input at all, I thought this year we were showing green shoots underage but are these clowns going to bring it all down. It really only takes one county board member to start rocking the boat it wouldn’t be easy but they have to start somewhere

Niall Bergin is rewarded for the most embarrassing defeat in Kilkenny GAA history with ANOTHER year; after proving time and time again he has managerial skills on a par with a bag of Maris Piper spuds. You couldn't make it up.

Yep …Pipers are rubbish ……….

New Season Queens on the other hand …… MMMmm

😃

I still didn’t get any answers regarding what will be expected of the minor management next year? On the last point about getting Danesfort up to senior level, nothing you say can hide the facts I stated above as regards beaten by Laois in Leinster and beaten by Tipp in AIF by 13 men in our own backyard, you can butter up whatever way you like but these are the stark facts.the county board has to take all the blame for the recent debacle, they seem to be limping along from crisis to crisis and now they won’t let the people have their say. Before this came up we had good discussions on here about who would we have as management teams or would we stick with who was already there. I presume the selection committee is going to tell us no one came forward for any of the positions, well they are not going to are they?it has to be put out there and then the various teams should be interviewed about there aims and plan. I think myself that it all comes down to money and the cheapest appointments are then made. I know there is a few county board members are posters here and I would love to hear their thoughts on what the next steps should be.We are sinking deeper and deeper each year, somebody has to lead the way and straighten things out. I’m still like a savage over this.

I've been saying this for ages, two years ago was the perfect time for a change when the 5 year terms of the previous board were coming to an end but not one person put their name forward to run against the current inhabitants. I think the big problem we have in the county is that we have loads of people that want to give out and say how terrible things are being run but we don't have anyone who is willing to step up and try and do anything about it. I contacted 2 people 2 year ago who were very vociferous in their criticism of the previous board and told them I would propose them and they could then run against the current board and lobby clubs for votes which they would have won but both for their own reasons didn't want to put their name forward. If we want change now is the time for people to come forward and put their names forward to go before convention and challenge the current board.

Sad state of affairs when i have yet to meet any Kilkenny hurling die hard who is happy with the current set up. Who are the ring leaders involved, Quinn, Henderson, Cody, Denieff and the current board ?

again Village you are absolutely correct I have met no one that is happy with the county board. The trouble is talking between themselves they probably think they are doing an excellent job. Really anytime I mention it to my county board rep. He shrugs his shoulders as if he knows the situation but will not do anything about it.Does anyone know if anyone was approached for any of the team jobs?

Just thinking we wont win an All Star this year, says a lot really.

Quinn and Henderson still hold sway in the board but I don't think that they have as much as they previously have. I know for a fact that Quinn favoured replacing at least 2 of the managers re-ratified this week. I've been around the CB meetings long enough and have never heard Cody's name being mentioned in any way in the running of things other than purely on the senior team side of things, he's not on any committee's in there either so doubt he would hold much sway and if he was in there I doubt he'd let the current slip in standards be allowed. I think the 2 Denieffe' definitely hold a lot of sway at the top table these days, along with the current top table, our vice chairman, coaching officer, h&s officer and the people they have packed the committees with.

I 100% agree and as they lack that credibility I think they are nearly afraid to rock the boat and keep with the same as has gone before them. I don't doubt the work or effort they are putting in and no doubt they are trying their best but I think at this level now you need more than that! Could you imagine someone like Phil Hogan was chairman and the things he would do it our board!

Huw Lawlor entitled? Better than either Cork or Clare FBs anyway.

We're not getting an All Star nor do we deserve one.

Eoin Downey was very good for Cork and Cleary did good jobs on Chin, Connolly and I think TJ towards the tail end of the year so bit of competition there, the most impossible thing to find is a all star team that everyone agrees on.

well I am involved at some level and know that there is meetings after meetings and only some people are brought in to the inner circle and I realise how hard it is to be heard but there is still a huge body of people who are not being listened to, well then that has to change.I also realise that there has to be working committees to get things done but when something is brought before the board for ratification then surely there should be a show of hands for either a yes or a know? Now Ned I know you have to be deeply concerned with what’s going on otherwise you wouldn’t be giving us the heads up here.It’s just surprising that like minded people on the county board are not getting together to voice their concerns I probably phrased my previous post a bit harshly but if your not with them your against them and vice versa.on a personal level I think your a brave man to give us all this information and I appreciate that.The other thing is a coup is a dangerous thing and the leaders of a coup are exposed and put out on a limb, it didn’t happen in Offaly but it could have. I liked your thinking on Phil Hogan as chairman he would certainly organise the county board into a progressive unit. And I still feel he should be in charge of the spending of all the massive fund raising that he did.

The true test of the change to U18 is only happening now. First round of minor championship is the same weekend as Round 5 of the adult round robin. Let's see how clubs address that before deeming it a massive success.

Thomastown look very comfortable at senior level, playing a great brand of hurling and are off to a great start. Great win over the neighborurs

I was at the Boro v Village match in St. John’s park yesterday, the Boro started at lightning pace and with 20 mins. Gone were 9 pts. Ahead thanks to 2 goals by Bill Sheehan. Then Buckley developed a hamstring problem and was replaced after that the Boro lost there way and led at halftime by 6 pts. The Village came back well in the second half and got within a point but the Boro came back and stretched it out to 3 pts. And won by 2pts. In the end I thought the ref was shocking and gave the village some soft frees which I thought should have been frees in . Anyway a win is a win. The Boro also lost Niall Rowe and Timmy Clifford’s flight from America was delayed so he didn’t make it either. Harry got man of the match.

Senior looks the weakest it has been for a long time imo. OLG seem to be the strongest with other teams crucified with immigration and injuries. Tullaroan will realise they have a great chance to do something with others in trouble.

Intermediate it looks between 4/5 teams that can win it. Danesfort, Lisdowney, Tullogher, Gowran maybe Dunnamaggin if they can lift it.

"Senior looks the weakest it has been for a long time imo"

I agree. Is it the talent, lack of skill or the way the game is being played though?

Honestly, hurling is still very exciting at times and well capable of delivering 60/70 minutes of top entertainment, but it's become a very stop/start sport with between 50/60 puckouts/sidelines and 30 frees (whether shots for goal or free outs) between the two sides a game. Throw in copious amounts of throwing which, while it keeps the ball moving, is cheating and we all know and see it and kind of shrug our shoulders at it.

I just think a lot of the contest is gone out of hurling, it's playing around teams rather than going to man on man, so many shots are got off easy enough these days. It's exciting, but feels at times more like a game of chess with sticks rather than full blooded contest, even if it has moments of real quality.

Personally, I think the throw is a cancer on the game of hurling. One thing is it's less about the individual and more about the system/possession game, and increasingly the possession game is built around the run and throw, which for me it means hurling seeing less and less of man to man contests, so lads aren't needing to use quick wrists and the hurl or their instincts as much as risk is taken out of much the game. I think the skill levels in general may be better when shown due to increased coaching underage, but certainly not applied anywhere near as much or as regular within games to the level they were even 10 years ago, and I think it's breeding a type of robotic players as opposed to the maverick or instinctive (like a HF turning backwards and throwing the ball to a midfielder to pot shot from 70 yards because it's the safe/coached thing to do, instead of pulling a bit of skill out of nothing turning the defender and popping it over himself or creating a goal chance).

Whatever about the rest of the country, I think think we need to pull a rabbit out of the hat in the county.

Personally, I'd love to see us make better use of the split season, and create a *ruthless county league independent of the championships, and have rules such as one that bans the hand-pass from the same hand forcing players to focus on quick hands and use of the stick, and hopefully force coaches to come up with different tactics than aping the current possession game to combat the stagnant coaching in the county.

*Format - 10 team divisions, round robin format. 3 up/3 down. Bottom 2 relegated, 3rd/4th bottom in relegations playoff. Top 4 of top division into League SF's. Top 2 of lower divisions into league final, 3rd/4th into promotion playoff.