If itâs the last play of the game and you have a free then I would contend that itâs much more difficult if your are attempting to draw the game then to win it. Self evident in fact
Has there been even one mention of Brian Cody acting like a fucking football hooligan during the AI final on media outlet since?
None, aside from the frees in the second half. And at that should there even be quality points for frees? A free strike? Itâs a tricky one.
[quote=âHBV*, post: 705315â]Lazuras a bit of perspective,
Cannings free at the death was only marginally more difficult than what Cluxton faced to win the AI. Cluxton had to kick his.[/quote]
Hardly in fairness. Canning had just missed a similiar one. Had he missed Galway would have lost. Cluxton had the safety net of a replay.
I would contend that it is easier and if one reasons by analogy with golf the statistics will bear thi out.
not a sport
+1
Theyâre finished WTB. Galway dominated them until they retreated in the second half. Only Shefflin and Murphy stood up on the day. (Hogan perhaps in the second half). I still believe that the lack of options from the bench is hurting kilkenny badly. Another aspect of that is there is no longer the pressure to perform or be replaced. Guys are now almost guaranteed their place eg Power has had a poor year yet is still an automatic choice. Will the U-21 forwards be promoted next year. Alyward, John Power and Walter Walsh would at least bring competition for places.
The replay is mouthwatering if nothing else because we have not had one in most peopleâs lifetimes. Last Sunday demonstrated that the Leinster final was not a fluke and this Galway team are well able to stand toe to toe with Kilkenny. Most impressive to me is that the Galway backs played possibly better than the LF and gave the Kilkenny forwards almost no time or space to create goal scoring openings. Kilkenny have thrived on goalscoring, in almost every important match they get goals at key times. Tough one to call as both teams have more to offer I think than we saw on Sunday, although I would argue that the experience will stand to Galway and hopefully be a key factor. With the Gwlay backs playing as well as they are it is a genuine question whether they needed to get as defensive as they did and not just continue a more traditional approach that was working so well. Big call for Cunningham the next day if they get a 4-5 point lead, as the reality is Galway have not lost a Championship match yet employing his same tactics. It is a fine balance, I wouldnât want to be opening the game up too much, the Kilkenny forwards are lethal if they get going.
I thought theyâd made a good start in introducing Herity, Murphy, Doyle, Joyce, and Buckley but it looks like theyâll have to accelerate the process. Willie Phelan should get a shot next spring youâd think.
As has been said before though, great teams ultimately revolve around 4 or 5 great players and the rest of the team are nowhere near as good without them. No one of the calibre of Shefflin, Walsh, and JJ seems to be on the way but itâs only to be expected. Theyâre once in a lifetime type players and theyâll never be replaced.
Kilkenny must be full of prods with names like that.
The Kilkenny forwards, on the evidence of their two games against Galway, are only lethal when theyâre winning primary possession and catching the ball clean. Because of how well the Galway backs are managing this tactic of breaking every ball instead of trying to catch it, the only way theyâll crack is if Hogan and Walsh get loads of ball to deliver and time to deliver it.
The cracks only appeared on Sunday because Galwayâs game deteriorated into aimless clearances. If that didnât happen Galway would have won the game. Why it happened is the big question for Cunningham in my opinion. Did they lose their composure? Did they tire and stop providing shorter options to man in possession? Whatever it is is what he has to fix.
[quote=âWatch The Break, post: 705330â]
I thought theyâd made a good start in introducing Herity, Murphy, Doyle, Joyce, and Buckley but it looks like theyâll have to accelerate the process. Willie Phelan should get a shot next spring youâd think.
As has been said before though, great teams ultimately revolve around 4 or 5 great players and the rest of the team are nowhere near as good without them. No one of the calibre of Shefflin, Walsh, and JJ seems to be on the way but itâs only to be expected. Theyâre once in a lifetime type players and theyâll never be replaced.[/quote]
Murphy is the only one who might have made the 2006-2009 team. The rest, whilst all being good hurlers, are inadequate replacements. TBF, as you say Shefflin, Tommy and JJ are among the best hurlers of all time so were always going to be virtually impossible to replace.
Will Cody go? Even if they win the replay surely even he will be able to see the writing on the wall.
Para one simply isnât true. Kk won 5 or maybe 6 clean balls in the forwards on Sunday. Which, with absolutely no impirical evidence, I would say is average in inter county hurling. This tactic of breaking the ball is a bit like Cunninghamâs instruction to Glennon to run at Tyrell and draw a foul. A pile of gash. The young horse was certainly trying to catch ball on Sunday.
Fennelly only back playing full belt a few weeks though really after the injury. Heâll be a different beast the next day I reckon.
Itâs the same team mate.
I donât think Cody will go. 10 All Irelandâs would be a nice number to finish on. And itâs not like thereâs much in the way of competition except for Galway and maybe Tipperary if they get babs back in charge. Kilkenny will be favourites for next years championship whatever happens in 2.64 weeks time.
+1. He still managed a few strokes. Not shooting when he had the chance in the second half was most uncharacteristic though and maybe shows a lack of confidence.
I think Galwaybshould consider a more possession oriented game when they have so many bodies back. Then hit it towards Joe when theyâre close enough. Think Iâll ring anto on this.
If Cody wins the replay he will have his eyes set on 5 in a row again.
Doubt Galway will get the same head start third time out, if KK win midfield in the replay then they have a platform for goals. If Fennelly finds his form and an able partner then you would have to fancy KK.
The aimless clearances only became aimless because the team as a whole retreated into their own half. This was another reason why they were able to pick up the majority of the loose ball. To win the next day they will need to get the balance right in committing more players to attack and still nullify the goal threat by crowding out the backs.