Galway v Kilkenny All Ireland Hurling Final 2012

[Lazarus]

@Appendage

Para one simply isn’t 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 Cunningham’s 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.

Biffo’s rattled here

[Appendage]

@Lazarus

Biffo’s rattled here

One of the commentators said Cody was rattled on Sunday, stage 4 he said.

[BeTimberin]

@Lazarus

?
Larkin and Power have been shit all year so yeah, Hogan(Ritchie) has swapped skill for aggression so yeah again. M Fennelly is half the player he east last year probably because of injury,or, if he was he a Dublin fballer they’d say he lacked a bit of hunger. You failed to mention Tommy Walsh and JJ who look to be running on empty. The great JJ(and Fennelly) had a glorious opportunity to prove their absence meant a lot in the Leinster Final, clearly it didn’t.

‘‘As much as i think Galway have a chance the next day their second half collapse(if you can call it that) must be a worry.’’
You know clearly know little about Galway hurling down the years if you label that a collapse

They scored 1-1 from play in the second half iirc. outside of the goal the kk backs lorded it for 35 minutes and had goal chances the other side. Walsh was much better in the second half aswell.

Power and Larkin were also much better against Tipp. Fennelly was aswell.

Kk will be better the next day, if lads like David burke, donnelan, Regan and Damien Hayes don’t perform then I can’t see anything but a kk win.

[Faldo]

I would be thinking along the same lines timber.kk will be better the next day and Galway will have it all to do IMO.
As a Galway man I hope your wrong tho.
Galway played crazy deep 2nd half,joe should have been left in around the square.kk will score a few goals the next day…

[Watch_The_Break]

The performance of Smith and Tannian at midfield would make you wonder about how far back Tipp are gone. Fennelly beat McGrath and Maher by himself and comfortably too. If you put Shane McGrath’s performance side by side with Andy Smith’s you’d have to say that McGrath looks shot.

[Declan_Moffat]

@Watch The Break

The performance of Smith and Tannian at midfield would make you wonder about how far back Tipp are gone. Fennelly beat McGrath and Maher by himself and comfortably too. If you put Shane McGrath’s performance side by side with Andy Smith’s you’d have to say that McGrath looks shot.

You are probably right WTB McGrath hasn’t really been the same since his bout of the mumps a few years ago. He’s away travelling for the year so we’ll have to plan without him next year

[Fran]

I’m very impressed with Andy Smith’s development. Seems he’s put in some serious hard work over the past few years. Watching him play half forward for Portumna I never thought he’d reach this level.

[Watch_The_Break]

@Declan Moffat

You are probably right WTB McGrath hasn’t really been the same since his bout of the mumps a few years ago. He’s away travelling for the year so we’ll have to plan without him next year

He was really outstanding in '08 and '09. Had a mixed year in '10 and has been struggling for form since. A huge loss it must be said.

[carryharry]

@Watch The Break

He was really outstanding in '08 and '09. Had a mixed year in '10 and has been struggling for form since. A huge loss it must be said.

In fairness to McGrath, he never recovered from the mumps properly and imo has being lucky to make the team for the past 2 years. If Seamus Hennessey can get fit i would pencil him in to replace Shane.

Regards Andy Smith, he did some job on Fennelly last wknd in fairness. Never gave him a minutes peace and hit every tackle like it was his last. He really has improved no end this year and added another dimension to Galway’s play. Cunningham must be applauded for sticking Tannion & Smith together as i would never have seen them as a midfield duo.

In saying all that, if KK place a better partner with Fennelly next day out and they get parity then KK will have a serious foundation built to kick on and win. Galway must win midfield to have any chance in the replay.

[Whiplash]

@carryharry

In fairness to McGrath, he never recovered from the mumps properly and imo has being lucky to make the team for the past 2 years. If Seamus Hennessey can get fit i would pencil him in to replace Shane.

Regards Andy Smith, he did some job on Fennelly last wknd in fairness. Never gave him a minutes peace and hit every tackle like it was his last. He really has improved no end this year and added another dimension to Galway’s play. Cunningham must be applauded for sticking Tannion & Smith together as i would never have seen them as a midfield duo.

In saying all that, if KK place a better partner with Fennelly next day out and they get parity then KK will have a serious foundation built to kick on and win. Galway must win midfield to have any chance in the replay.

Agree that Galway have to win midfield.The Kilkenny half back line had too much influence in the second half.I would like to see Galway varying it a bit more in the half forward line.Brian Hogan cleared too much ball in that second half.Instead of trying to compete they should spoil/break the ball.But this tactic might not yield much with Galway deploying 2 deep lying midfielders.This is where Damien Hayes needs to come into effect.He needs to be picking up the dirty ball and running at that Kilkenny defence.The same goes for Cyril Donnelan.It is his natural game.

In a way its a shame that a couple of players like Aidan Harte and Aongus Cullinan arent around the panel because they would offer another scoring threat.Galway have the weapons to hurt Kilkenny but they cannot afford to retreat into their shell like the last couple of outings.

Galway are set up to be front runners but if they go a few points behind I reckon they could be in trouble.

[Watch_The_Break]

@carryharry

In fairness to McGrath, he never recovered from the mumps properly and imo has being lucky to make the team for the past 2 years. If Seamus Hennessey can get fit i would pencil him in to replace Shane.

They definitely had a big effect on him but on their own they shouldn’t be enough to knock a lad’s career back that much. Maybe he never gave his system the recovery time it needed.

I’m not convinced Hennessy has the mobility or natural athleticism to play I/C midfield, I suppose if Tannian can do it he should be in with a shot as well. They might prefer to fit him in at the back though, especially with Curran and O’Mahony on the way out.

Smith and Tannian has been an unlikely success story alright. Earlier in the year i would have seen that pairing as one of the main reasons Galway weren’t going to win anything. Regarding Fennelly, Smith dominating him was a massive surprise and it is hard to imagine him being that quiet again. If he’s carrying the ball towards the Galway half-backline it totally changes the game the next day, but Smith and Tannian are the pairing in form and that counts for an awful lot at midfield.

[BeTimberin]

@Whiplash

Agree that Galway have to win midfield.The Kilkenny half back line had too much influence in the second half.I would like to see Galway varying it a bit more in the half forward line.Brian Hogan cleared too much ball in that second half.Instead of trying to compete they should spoil/break the ball.But this tactic might not yield much with Galway deploying 2 deep lying midfielders.This is where Damien Hayes needs to come into effect.He needs to be picking up the dirty ball and running at that Kilkenny defence.The same goes for Cyril Donnelan.It is his natural game.

In a way its a shame that a couple of players like Aidan Harte and Aongus Cullinan arent around the panel because they would offer another scoring threat.Galway have the weapons to hurt Kilkenny but they cannot afford to retreat into their shell like the last couple of outings.

Galway are set up to be front runners but if they go a few points behind I reckon they could be in trouble.

Harte is on the bench whiplash but hasn’t been used

[cluaindiuic]

Do Galway have to start fast and build up a lead to be in a position to win?

Can they win from behind?

[hannibal]

[quote=“carryharry, post: 705368”]

In saying all that, if KK place a better partner with Fennelly next day out and they get parity then KK will have a serious foundation built to kick on and win. Galway must win midfield to have any chance in the replay.[/quote]

Who would this better partner be Carryharry? There isn’t any obvious options. Hogan didn’t work, Cillian Buckley is too light, Paddy Hogan is not tough enough. An alternative option would be to move Tommy Walsh out but I can’t see Cody doing that. As it stands I can see Galway dominating midfield again in the replay. They have to keep a better shape in the second half but I think they can do that.

Alot of lads are stating that Kilkenny won’t be as bad the next day out but what is this based on? It will be the same team because there are virtually no alternatives on the bench. The Galway defence has been excellent in two games against them now, why will that change? I think Galway have the measure of this Kilkenny team and if they keep their composure better in the replay then they will win.

[carryharry]

@hannibal

Who would this better partner be Carryharry? There isn’t any obvious options. Hogan didn’t work, Cillian Buckley is too light, Paddy Hogan is not tough enough. An alternative option would be to move Tommy Walsh out but I can’t see Cody doing that. As it stands I can see Galway dominating midfield again in the replay. They have to keep a better shape in the second half but I think they can do that.

Alot of lads are stating that Kilkenny won’t be as bad the next day out but what is this based on? It will be the same team because there are virtually no alternatives on the bench. The Galway defence has been excellent in two games against them now, why will that change? I think Galway have the measure of this Kilkenny team and if they keep their composure better in the replay then they will win.

I thought Hogan & Colin Fennelly would switch the last day Hannibal.

I don’t think Tommy would have the legs for midfield plus Cody has him earmarked to contain Cyril Donnellan.

What do KK posters think of Kerian Joyce getting a chance in midfield with Fennelly? Training in Nolan Park for the next couple of weeks will be very interesting. Will Cody close all gates?

[Watch_The_Break]

@hannibal

Alot of lads are stating that Kilkenny won’t be as bad the next day out but what is this based on? It will be the same team because there are virtually no alternatives on the bench. The Galway defence has been excellent in two games against them now, why will that change? I think Galway have the measure of this Kilkenny team and if they keep their composure better in the replay then they will win.

That’s a fair point hannibal, but I think CLD’s point above is valid as well. If Galway don’t get an early lead of significance, and it’s easy to imagine that happening because KK might not leak a goal next time, then you’d question their capacity to close out a tight game. The defence certainly does seem to have the measure of them, but KK probably still should have won the game. The same performances again from both sides would probably produce a KK victory.

[hannibal]

[quote=“Watch The Break, post: 705375”]

That’s a fair point hannibal, but I think CLD’s point above is valid as well. If Galway don’t get an early lead of significance, and it’s easy to imagine that happening because KK might not leak a goal next time, then you’d question their capacity to close out a tight game. The defence certainly does seem to have the measure of them, but KK probably still should have won the game. The same performances again from both sides would probably produce a KK victory.[/quote]

What’s annoying me is that lots of posters are saying that Kilkenny had an off day without giving the Galway performance due credit. I would agree that Galway do seem to need a lead to defend but we don’t know for certain that they wouldn’t come from behind if they needed to. No one seems to be allowing for an improvement in the Galway performance in the replay.

[carryharry]

@hannibal

What’s annoying me is that lots of posters are saying that Kilkenny had an off day without giving the Galway performance due credit. I would agree that Galway do seem to need a lead to defend but we don’t know for certain that they wouldn’t come from behind if they needed to. No one seems to be allowing for an improvement in the Galway performance in the replay.

I can’t remember a game bar the 2010 All Ireland where KK’s forwards as a unit were so ineffective.
Credit must go to Galway’s mean defense for this but, i firmly believe the R Power, C Fennelly, A Fogarty and Eoin Larkin will not be kept quiet the next day.
Bar Shefflin & Reid the last day, Kk as a foward unit were terrible.

If Galway go man to man for 70 mins they have a right good chance imo, but if they retreat into the shells like they did in the second half vrs Cork & KK the next day then things could get very uncomfortable for Galway fans.

[Fran]

@hannibal

What’s annoying me is that lots of posters are saying that Kilkenny had an off day without giving the Galway performance due credit. I would agree that Galway do seem to need a lead to defend but we don’t know for certain that they wouldn’t come from behind if they needed to. No one seems to be allowing for an improvement in the Galway performance in the replay.

You don’t seem to be allowing for a Kilkenny improvement.

@hannibal

Alot of lads are stating that Kilkenny won’t be as bad the next day out but what is this based on? It will be the same team because there are virtually no alternatives on the bench.

What alternatives do Galway have on the bench?

[Watch_The_Break]

@hannibal

What’s annoying me is that lots of posters are saying that Kilkenny had an off day without giving the Galway performance due credit. I would agree that Galway do seem to need a lead to defend but we don’t know for certain that they wouldn’t come from behind if they needed to. No one seems to be allowing for an improvement in the Galway performance in the replay.

I agree with you but it’s understandable in the light of some of the performances they have produced in the past.

In general I’d also go along with your overall diagnosis of where they’re at as a team. I think what we saw last Sunday now reflects a ‘typical’ Kilkenny performance, with the kind of havoc wreaked in the second half of the Tipp game being the exception rather than the rule.