U21 hurling v Kilkenny, Wednesday June 26th, Tellamore

[Plain of the Herbs]

Before the Carroll Meats / Cuisine gear gets put away for the summer and winter, there's an U21 Leinster semi-final against Kilkenny to be considered.

That's on Wednesday evening in Tellamore at 7.30pm. Offaly have selected the same line out as they did for the Laois match, which is no surprise given management's introduction of just a single sub that evening.

This is not the done deal many might think it is. Results at this grade can be unpredictable enough betimes. Wexford ended Kilkenny's interest in the first round in 2011, Offaly ran Kilkenny to 3 points in Nowlan Park a few years ago (following some very poor preparation), while Laois have ran Kilkenny reasonably close on occasion at this grade.

Like everything else, if the attitude is right anything is possible. There is one proviso. I think to beat Kilkenny, you don't actually go out to beat Kilkenny. Rather, you break the game down into 'segments' of five minutes and take each of those 'segments' as it comes, staying the game for as long as possible.

The fruit won't fall unless you rattle a few branches.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Kilkenny team named -

Aaron Duggan, Dicksboro

Jack Nolan, O'Loughlin Gaels
Willie Phelan, Dunnamaggin
Pádraig Walsh, Tullaroan

Jason Corcoran, John Locke's
Luke Harney, Kilmacow
Brian Kennedy, St Lachtain's

Jack Langton, Clara
Owen McGrath, John Locke's

Cillian Buckley, Dicksboro
John Power, Carrickshock
Ollie Walsh, Dicksboro

Ger Aylward, Glenmore
Kevin Kelly, St Patrick's
Shane Donnelly, St Lachtain's

[Bord na Mona man]

Willie Phelan, Dunnamaggin

Was this team published on Viz magazine or what?

[townman]

theres 11 there from kilkenny that were there last year that lost the final to Clare, hard to see an offaly win

[beirut]

Looks like TG4 are showing the match http://entertainment.ie/TV_Listing/26-J ... 83/TG4.htm

[Kevin]

Offaly 9
Kilkenny 8

HT

Anyone know if there is any radio coverage for this?

Radio 3 unable to break away from the country music show...

[Proudbogman]

great effort from the21s

[backofthenet]

No it's not a great effort were after throwing this match away.

We seem to like giving away really stupid frees for absolutely no reason, so frustrating to watch! I count 4 frees 2 either side of half time which were all pointed. Kilkenny really couldn't score from play so it was just stupid tackles which stopped us from keeping a gap of 2-3 points.

As soon as Kilkenny got the goal something in the players heads said we needed a goal and nothing else even though we were the better side all game, had 10 minutes and were only 2 points down. We need to learn to keep our composure and stay taking our points especially when a sucker punch goal goes in.

We are particularly bad at midfield reading the breaking ball, time after time tonight when our half forwards / half backs were contesting a high ball our midfielders were behind their men meaning we were constantly 2nd to the breaking ball. This is really kindergarten stuff you should have your positioning down well before u21 level but it is something which happens often at senior level aswell and it gives the opposition a great advantage to secure possession.

Lastly there were a number of times odhran keely had the ball, he hit one terrible wide, hit one straight to the full back with no one inside and ran for the goal when he probably should have been looking around for a pass. Just a serious lack of composure in front of goal which was very disappointing.



Having said all that there were positives
1. Stephen Quirke had a massive game and looks like a player.
2. Offaly played for about 55 mins and were fit enough to play that long, which is a welcome change from the seniors who can only manage 40 - 45mins for the last decade!
3. If the penalty had went in I have no doubt we would have won so to be that close to last years finalists is very encouraging.
4. Fielding was actually probably as good as Kilkennys which hopefully will feed through to the senior team in the near future as its a major issue

[Toxicity234]

Feck it. we could have won this on another day Offaly could have has 5 goals.
the good things from tonight were our backs all of them again awesome. Camon tired for the 10 mins at the end. it was a pity he was excellent for most of the game.
Stephen Quirke is the best forward in the county. some of the score he took today any forward in the country would be proud of.
The two Geraghty and Sean Cleary did something tonight that i have not seen an Offaly team do for 15 years they won the rucks and came out with most of the ball for about 50 mins of the game. Again after that they tired and the game got away for us.
The management could be congratulated for doing a great job in getting the team ready. They games plan for most of today was excellent.
But i thought they could have make change for the last 10 mins. Carroll and Cleary were run into the ground and need a break. Con Mahon and Aidan Treacy in the middle of the park could have turned the game.
it a pity we didn't have Eoin Ryan and sean og lyons tonight. Both injured at the moment they would have add to the team.
Kilkenny know how to win a game like this, that is something at Offaly underage team need to learn.

We do have good hurlers in this county its up to us to get the best of them.

[townman]

yes threw this one, if Ger Coughlan had the balls to make a few changes we could have nick the
win. Tommy Carroll for a player who was playing his 4th year under 21 was a big let down he just
stood in midfield and watched Cillian Buckley do what he liked.

as in the Laois game Ger watched Aodhan Kealey for most of the game at centre forward getting hurl out of it by kilkennys Luke Harney and brough in Jason Sampson when the game was over.

the defence were great Niall Wynne,Mick Cleary,Clancy in goals, up front Stephen Quirke was outstanding and gave Padraig Walsh the run around in the first half as Walsh was moved at half time
Sean Cleary and Sean Dolan gave 100 per cent and caught some great balls during the game.

the two Gearaghys were AWOL for most of the game, the pen was the turning of the game as a goal
would have put us level and kilkenny went up to score after the pen miss.

as like the seniors their are good hurlers in offaly its who's over them is the problem, Ger Coughlan
came up short tonight on the line kilkenny had make about 4 changes before Ger made 1 when the game was lost. lets get in people that know how to train and make the changes that win games that will be a start.

[King Kev]

Ah towman Tom Carroll got on the world of ball in the first half way more than buckley. The quality of diagonal ball he sent into quirkes corner was a joy to watch. Dunno what match you were looking at. Ger Coughlan and his managment team should be giving huge credit for the job they have done with this group. Some great performances put in and a serious work rate put in from 1 to 15. Hard luck to the lads. Ye done your county proud.

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

Well done to the lads last night, in terms of what I expected heading into the match.

Agree Townman, 2 Geragty's were AWOL completely, and continuously beaten to the ball,and hardly entered a ruck.
But Tom Carroll had a brilliant first half imo, delivering in ball that he won himself.

Have not seen much of these lads before, but young Hynes must be injured? Could not run. Only Quirke really fired up front. Sean Cleary ran himself into the ground, and backs and keeper look like good prospects for Senior, (granted young Cleary in the corner needs bulking up for it).

2 Games , and only 2 subs used? It asclear that a change to the forwards was needed early in the second half, and Kilkenny flooded the breaks around midfield.
They made all the switches to change the tide and eventually they over ran us.

Savage amount to be learned from this game, and how we prepare tactically for plan B would appear to be a major issue in Offaly hurling.
But for me, was glad I went last night and there is hope for the future.

[kinnittyman]

Townman,

I read the first line of your post and I immediately stopped because I wanted to create this unbelievably imaginative reply....

Go Fcuk Yourself you complete fcuking illiterate excuse for a person.

[Plain of the Herbs]

Townman was so confident of an Offaly win beforehand, and all. Full of encouragement for the lads too. Inspirational, really.

[Bord na Mona man]

Great effort from Offaly.
The team went out to give a determined, but composed performances, rather than a wild one like underdogs often do.

In the first half we were the better team by a few points, but the one point margin was a little less than warranted, or needed as it turned out.
Kilkenny started out with the mindset that they could walk through and bang in goals to kill the tie.
We had the beating of the Kilkenny full back line when the ball was being delivered well. Thomas Geraghty was getting out in front of his man and winning the ball and Stephen Quirke was causing real trouble.

2nd half looked a bit ominous when Kilkenny got the first few scores and started cetching ball and bursting forward. However Offaly didn’t drop the intensity and the manner in which they regained the lead was as great indicator of a top group of players.
The Kilkenny goal was a bit of a killer in that it came at a time when Offaly were applying a lot of pressure. Offaly lacked the subs to bring on and help the chase. A few gaps started to appear as fellas piled forward and the defence got stretched in the last few minutes and Kilkenny got a few points to make the scoreboard lie.

Great to see the hooking and blocking and some unlikely turnovers being won in the rucks. Some of Kilkenny bigger names were made look like scrubbers when the pressure was on them. Ger Coughlan and the other mentors deserve credit for a positive display. A slightly deeper panel and maybe the width of a hurley from that penalty and we might be getting ready to take on the strawberries in a Linster final.