Kilkenny V Cork

The end of the line for some decent hurlers this Sunday when Kilkenny will put a few of these corks lads into retirement. Cork's all ireland final was last May against Tipp and have gotten progressively worse with every game, little or no balance in their forwards and they are still relying on the same key players they were back between 2003-2006(O'Neill/Cadogan aside).....Kilkenny on the other hand have beaten Galway and Dublin with ease and will take pleasure in taking this cork team apart.....Shame Tennyson is gone for the year as he is a far more stylish centre back than Hogan

Kilkenny by 10 at least

Hard to see anything but a straightforward win for the Cats - Cork could put the full panel on the field at the one time and they would still lose.

Cork dont have enough skillful forwards to trouble Kilkenny th likes of McCarthy Cussens and O'hAilpin just arent in the same class as Henry, Eddie and the men from Kilkenny.

Not getting much in terms of odds though Kilkeeny -10 is only 3/2

The Puke wrote:The end of the line for some decent hurlers this Sunday when Kilkenny will put a few of these corks lads into retirement. Cork's all ireland final was last May against Tipp and have gotten progressively worse with every game, little or no balance in their forwards and they are still relying on the same key players they were back between 2003-2006(O'Neill/Cadogan aside).....Kilkenny on the other hand have beaten Galway and Dublin with ease and will take pleasure in taking this cork team apart.....Shame Tennyson is gone for the year as he is a far more stylish centre back than Hogan

Kilkenny by 10 at least

What forwards are you on about Puke? Shure' Ben is only a freetaker, McCarthy, despite quadrupling his tally for the year already is only, as you would say yourself, a jennet, Horgan, O'Sullivan, Cronin middling Intermediates and that leaves Cussen ans Aisake. Surely you wouldn't class them as "forwards" going into this one....
Cats by about 6-8 having replaced Shefflin and Eddie around the 55 mark and never reaching for the whip..

Small Tommy for about 4 points and the MOTM..again. Oh! and he'll possibly incur a yellow for a mistimed pull, his co-ordination is on the blink ...

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:The end of the line for some decent hurlers this Sunday when Kilkenny will put a few of these corks lads into retirement. Cork's all ireland final was last May against Tipp and have gotten progressively worse with every game, little or no balance in their forwards and they are still relying on the same key players they were back between 2003-2006(O'Neill/Cadogan aside).....Kilkenny on the other hand have beaten Galway and Dublin with ease and will take pleasure in taking this cork team apart.....Shame Tennyson is gone for the year as he is a far more stylish centre back than Hogan

Kilkenny by 10 at least

What forwards are you on about Puke? Shure' Ben is only a freetaker, McCarthy, despite quadrupling his tally for the year already is only as you would say yourself, a jennet, Horgan, O'Sullivan, Cronin middling Intermediates and that leaves Cussen ans Aisake. Surely you wouldn't class them as "forwards" going into this one....
Cats by about 6-8 having replaced Shefflin and Eddie around the 55 mark and never reaching for the whip..

Small Tommy for about 4 points and the MOTM..again. Oh! and he'll possibly incur a yellow for a mistimed pull, his co-ordination is on the blink ...

They are midling to poor alright....Aisake in terms of skill is an insult to intercounty hurling, there are footballers from west clare with more hurling ability than him....Cussen for all his size is fairly brainless and timid enough....Ben is still a class act although playing three weeks in a row wouldn't be ideal for him....Paudie Sull is chronically slow at this level, you would hope that they bring Horgan back in as he is the only one of the younger fella's with a bit of cut about him



The bookies have the handicap at -8 and i find it hard to disagree with....Will probably go along the lines of the 2008 semi final where Cork held their own for 25-30 minutes before Kilkenny went up in the gears

By the way, Richie Power is due an outstanding performance in Croker and will be worth a punt for MOTM.....This lad is as skillful a hurler as there is in the country and would be the main man in any other forward line and be held in much higher regard.....If offered him or canning in the morning to tog for Clare I would take him every time

The Puke wrote:By the way, Richie Power is due an outstanding performance in Croker and will be worth a punt for MOTM.....This lad is as skillful a hurler as there is in the country and would be the main man in any other forward line and be held in much higher regard.....If offered him or canning in the morning to tog for Clare I would take him every time

I presume it's the Joe chap rather than Ollie that you are on about...His profile has diminished rapidly here since the departure of Max Clifford from the forum..

Boxtyeater wrote:

The Puke wrote:By the way, Richie Power is due an outstanding performance in Croker and will be worth a punt for MOTM.....This lad is as skillful a hurler as there is in the country and would be the main man in any other forward line and be held in much higher regard.....If offered him or canning in the morning to tog for Clare I would take him every time

I presume it's the Joe chap rather than Ollie that you are on about...His profile has diminished rapidly here since the departure of Max Clifford from the forum..

The one with the lovehandles....

At the start of the year I said Galeway should be the biggest threat to Kilkenny, but Cork would be.

Nothing has changed. Cork were far too good for Tipperary, but lost their way against a waterford side we have all under rated.

Cork however do not have the forwards to trouble Kilkenny, and if "Winker" from Antrim can get 6 from play against Cadogan, well I fear for them.

However there is never anything easy in a Cork V Kilkenny game, and strange to relate the underdog usually wins.

But I cannot see it this time.

I'd take KilKenny at the eight point margin.
The cats have used nine forwards this year all better than Corks best, Ben is the only forward of all star quality and is 5 yards past his best.

McCarthy, fraggy and cant even remember the other corner
are nowhere close to this level. O halpin and Cussen are like Junior team "big Stoppers" and thats being kind.

Corks unvaried long ball has put Brick Walsh in all star mode, Tommy, hickey, Tyrell and co. will have same for appetisers

Rice out so they have to fall back on Cha says it all about quality in depth.

Corks only strong line is Half back and even at that there is a lot of mileage (curran aside). Kilkenny have six options on the HF line so
at least two will click if worst comes to worst.

So Kilkenny look to have enough to win every line on the pitch - and I'd even expect that Donal óg will end up playing Tyrone type puck outs - after thirty of these fair chance that Fast Eddie will steal at least one.

Agree with the Puke - Even if Cork hit top form the cats will hold them for 20 mins at worst and then pull away before half time.

I dont believe it will as easy as everyone says it will. I have a sneeky feeling thats the Cats 5 in a row bid will end on Sunday. Cork are dogged and wont give Kilkenny anything handy. Still though it would be hard to bet against them especially after destroying Galway where they shot nearly 20 wides! If Cork lose Sunday it will the end of the road for a lot of this generation.

Cats by 4.

Cats pulling up ... and laughing ... or purring.

hurlingguru wrote:I dont believe it will as easy as everyone says it will. I have a sneeky feeling thats the Cats 5 in a row bid will end on Sunday. Cork are dogged and wont give Kilkenny anything handy. Still though it would be hard to bet against them especially after destroying Galway where they shot nearly 20 wides! If Cork lose Sunday it will the end of the road for a lot of this generation.

Cats by 4.

Have to say im with HG on this one, i dont think it will be as easyas people think, i believe cork with lift their game big time, and to add to that what pat says past results which included great teams always sees the underdog come out on top in this one whether it was KK or cork going for three in a row the underdog won.

To be honest Pat winker got the three from play as he was on fire that day and when that boy hits form hes as good as most forwards in ireland, cork didnt get the respect they deserved for beating what is probably the best antrim team in 7 years, if theyd beaten dublin by the same margin would they have gotten a lot more respect coming into sunday? Id say so.

Asaike and Cussen will cause trouble from highball no matter what anyone says two men over 6'6 can cause trouble and if asaike breaks one down in and around the square then who knows, however cork must get their tactics right for this and against antrim they didnt antrim played not just as big a centre full back whom i regard as one of the best up and coming centre backs in ireland and an excellent high feilder and this worked, when it happened they should have put cussen into the full forward line also.

I know its hard to go against probably the greatest team ever but after the year weve been having so far regarding underdogs, Carlow, Antrim in hurling with Sligo, Roscommon, Down and Dublin in football then my mind is not made up just yet.

North Side Gael wrote:

hurlingguru wrote:I dont believe it will as easy as everyone says it will. I have a sneeky feeling thats the Cats 5 in a row bid will end on Sunday. Cork are dogged and wont give Kilkenny anything handy. Still though it would be hard to bet against them especially after destroying Galway where they shot nearly 20 wides! If Cork lose Sunday it will the end of the road for a lot of this generation.

Cats by 4.

Have to say im with HG on this one, i dont think it will be as easyas people think, i believe cork with lift their game big time, and to add to that what pat says past results which included great teams always sees the underdog come out on top in this one whether it was KK or cork going for three in a row the underdog won.

To be honest Pat winker got the three from play as he was on fire that day and when that boy hits form hes as good as most forwards in ireland, cork didnt get the respect they deserved for beating what is probably the best antrim team in 7 years, if theyd beaten dublin by the same margin would they have gotten a lot more respect coming into sunday? Id say so.

Asaike and Cussen will cause trouble from highball no matter what anyone says two men over 6'6 can cause trouble and if asaike breaks one down in and around the square then who knows, however cork must get their tactics right for this and against antrim they didnt antrim played not just as big a centre full back whom i regard as one of the best up and coming centre backs in ireland and an excellent high feilder and this worked, when it happened they should have put cussen into the full forward line also.

I know its hard to go against probably the greatest team ever but after the year weve been having so far regarding underdogs, Carlow, Antrim in hurling with Sligo, Roscommon, Down and Dublin in football then my mind is not made up just yet.

How many balls has Aisake broke so far in the championship....He is far too selfish when he gets ball in hand and doesn't have the ability to do much with any ball he wins, apart from heading for the goals ala Forrest Gump

If they change their tactics though and get him starting to break ball down, cork could be in with a shout or just get him off and put cussen up there.

North Side Gael wrote:If they change their tactics though and get him starting to break ball down, cork could be in with a shout or just get him off and put cussen up there.

Easier said that done, these boys only good with the ball in hand over 4/5 yards-hoping someone fouls them, back off them and make them hurl which I think Coady will do and you'll see these boys on the line quicker that you can say the cats got the cream.

A hurler like JJ Delaney would have more luck against Aisake, would have to speed to stay with him and block him down or hook him. Its hard to see how Cork can beat Kilkenny and I'd say it they will get into their 5th final in a row.

Just cant see where Cork are going to get the scores from, KKs backs are too good and Corks forwards dont seem to have the attacking edge that Galway, Tipp, even Waterford have. Corks best chance lies in dragging the match into a lowscoring dogfight, and then somehow managing to get a goal or string of points at the end. Even if it was level with 10 mins to go (very unlikely) you'd still have to fancy KK. I'd like to see Cork to win (if only to see them bet in AI Final) but I think they could be in for a real pasting here...

Cork team announced, along expected lines...I'd say Frank Murphy is a worried man....
I'll open the score predictions then with nervous nod to Kilkenny, given that they may be headed to the record books and may hold back a little in reserve....

Kilkenny 6-26
Cork 0-13

Boxtyeater wrote:Cork team announced, along expected lines...I'd say Frank Murphy is a worried man....
I'll open the score predictions then with nervous nod to Kilkenny, given that they may be headed to the record books and may hold back a little in reserve....

Kilkenny 6-26
Cork 0-13

Ill give Osackie the benefit of one high ball from Gardiner bouncing off his head and going in.
Cats 3-23
Langers 1-12

If cork do anything they will try and shut out KK, basically stop them playing it will work for a bit but not for the win, i hope cork do win though.

My prediction

KK 1-16

Cork 0-14

if there is one team KK despise its the Cork lads and the goalkeeper in particular so they will be going all out to give them a lesson in hurling.

Cant see anything but an emphatic win for the Cats

Hogan and Tennyson both out for Kilkenny meaning they are short on options at centre back, Tyrell could well be moved here but Kavanagh is struggling with a fractured finger.....Michael Rice will be a loss as well as he is the form midfielder in the game at the moment....Big call for Cody, they are lucky enough that the Cork forward line are tame enough, could well be a chance for one of the young guns, Paddy Hogan or Paul Murphy to stake a claim

Calling it 3-14 to 1-12 and being generous to Cork. In other counties the loss of a good player is a hindrance ... in Kilkenny (even more so now!) its an opportunity!

OMAR wrote:I'd take KilKenny at the eight point margin.
The cats have used nine forwards this year all better than Corks best, Ben is the only forward of all star quality and is 5 yards past his best.

McCarthy, fraggy and cant even remember the other corner
are nowhere close to this level. O halpin and Cussen are like Junior team "big Stoppers" and thats being kind.

Corks unvaried long ball has put Brick Walsh in all star mode, Tommy, hickey, Tyrell and co. will have same for appetisers

Rice out so they have to fall back on Cha says it all about quality in depth.

Corks only strong line is Half back and even at that there is a lot of mileage (curran aside). Kilkenny have six options on the HF line so
at least two will click if worst comes to worst.

So Kilkenny look to have enough to win every line on the pitch - and I'd even expect that Donal óg will end up playing Tyrone type puck outs - after thirty of these fair chance that Fast Eddie will steal at least one.

Agree with the Puke - Even if Cork hit top form the cats will hold them for 20 mins at worst and then pull away before half time.

Eight point spread lookings safe unless they take the foot of the gas
though they haven't been mericiful in the past and the bench will want to stake a claim
against tired 30somethings - could be a cricket score

They beat us in the minor by 19
Their seniors are currently beating Cork by 13 with 20 to play

Kilkenny hurling is a monster and it is only stronger and scarier its getting.
It's coming to the stage where you'd feel sorry for anyone else who plays hurling in this era as they haven't a hope of winning All-Irelands