Kilkenny GAA thread

Managed home Club to All Ireland Club x2 :white_check_mark:
Managed as Senior Inter County level :white_check_mark:
Current Manager of Kilkenny U20 team :white_check_mark:
The most illustrious playing career of all time. :white_check_mark:

He’s the standout candidate by a mile. I’d be shocked if he doesnt get it.

Brian hogan might be an outside shot

Shefflin had two problems in year 1 that ended up fatally undermining him. 1. Cody bullied the fuck out of him and 2 His reactions on the line when Galway had got level against Limerick late on were not that of a serious man.

On 1, Cody was obviously being a cunt and obviously being unreasonable, but he did it because he could, because he didn’t give a fuck what anybody else thought, because Galway were a rival, and because he knew it would rattle Shefflin. And he was completely right.

On 2, certain managers can just about get away with acting like eejits on the sideline, but that’s a function of i) a track record of managerial success, ii) their personality being able to “carry” acting like an eejit, iii) how they look doing it. Mourinho or Diego Simeone or maybe even Davy Fitzgerald at a certain point in time could get away with that stuff. That was their “brand”. Mourinho and Simeone looked cool doing it, like Scarface. Davy being a headbanger was a given. Cody could get away with it because of his record.

Shefflin couldn’t. He just looked like an eejit. Shefflin is also cursed with Cora Staunton face which made him look doubly stupid doing it.

Shefflin losing it on the line was hardly the cause of Galway losing that particular match, but it did not portray somebody in control, and that had long lasting effects. It just undermines players’ perception of a manager. They start to doubt him, start to think he’s a bit of a clown, he’s not the man. Once that takes root the writing is on the wall.

Sure he was unlucky in that Leinster final in 2023, but you tend to get lucky if you’re good and unlucky if you’re not good enough. That Kilkenny goal at the end wasn’t really luck either. It came from a brainfart from a Podrick Mannion, one of the players you most expect not to commit a brainfart.

Galway gave 25 very good minutes against Limerick, but then collapsed totally. That was a team playing on pure raaaaarrrrr and not a plan. Shefflin was totally passive on the line, like he’d been hit over the head with a shovel. That was Shefflin done and it was obvious at the time.

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There might be an uptick and a regained Leinster for a manager that keeps it nice and simple next year.

Murphy in goals, Mikey Butler and the good fullback back there. Cian Kenny and Mikey Carey midfield. Mullen at 11, Cody at 14. Mullen and Cody are the key really. Capable of way more.

Not what they’re used in to in terms of riches but that’s a team that would push most if they can sort the half back line. Henry should drive on and do it now while he has his youth and hope they develop a few Hegarty or Gillane types that have good physical traits and improve their hurling out of all recognition.

They’re in the desert here, in totality, KK hurling is better with Sheflin at the helm right now.

Give it to David Herity

Re point #1, & without knowing for definite what happened & acknowledging Cody seems to be a gruff/raw enough man at the best of times…I would venture it’s not unreasonable to assume (albeit dangerous) there may have been some back channelling from camp Shefflin to encourage Cody to retire & allow the anointed one to assume the role. Both on the back of Shefflin’s club successes & a drop off in Kilkenny’s results since Cody’s final All Ireland. Shefflin then taking the Galway job in direct competition to Kilkenny could be perceived as an entirely justifiable decision given the Kilkenny job wasn’t available or some combo of toy throwing & trying to up the ante on those who overlooked him, depending on your view. Either way, & putting on my Tom Dempsey hat, Cody bucklepping around the place after Kilkenny pipped Galway in that Leinster Final & showing scant regard for Shefflin was actually pretty funny.

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I think this would be the brave move but unlikely to happen.

Charlie Carter with Lucan Sarsfield’s. Has he ever managed a county team at any level?

I’ll be surprised if Herity isn’t on the successful managers ticket. His involvement with Tipp winning will surely boost his cv.

He worked with Henry in Ballyhale this year. I’m fairly sure he is friendly with Dowling also.

Would the smell of Tipp off him not scupper his chances?

It would piss Cody off anyway

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I saw Cody talking to Niall o Ceallachain after the match in Parnell Park. He looks like the vampire out of Salems Lot. I sort of admire the way he has just slipped back into being a Kilkenny supporter. Im sure there are loads of media/podcasts gigs on offer to him.

KK operated this year with coaches smelling of Dublin and Limerick.

Herity is one of their own. Sure the frontrunners of Shefflin and Dowling have both went out side the county for IC experience.

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Don’t forget his stint with Thomastown. He didn’t get over the line in the intermediate final there but they’ve since gone on to win senior without him.

It was a strange one.

He wanted to come back the following year (unfinished business) but they wouldn’t have him and went on to win the county Intermediate and then senior with no manager*.

However the wheels came off the ‘no manager’ waggon last year and they failed miserably to retain the cup.

A strange one in a lot of ways.

*The history books will say that Noel Doherty was the manager.

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The best percentage bet would be Henry Shefflin/David Herity (Coach), with Brian Dowling going to U20.

Senior selectors from this group: Canice Hickey, Noel Hickey, John Hoyne, James Ryall, John Tennyson.

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It’d make you wonder if Kilkenny would be better off going with Noel Doherty from Thomastown rather than Henry Shefflin?

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No thanks to tennyson.
What about tom mullaly? Strange hes never been Linked with kilkenny jobs considering his success elsewhere

I am, strictly speaking, talking about a percentaged bet. The problem with appointing anyone other than HS – including TM – is that HS would be U20 manager.

You also have the players’ reaction to consider. Might be right or might be wrong but the players in an intercounty dressingroom are not easily impressed. Law of the jungle prevails.

I understand what youre saying but Brian Dowling or mullaly would have players respect because of their past records.