Deserves a thread of its own, one of the best ever
With all the cat retirements it's like buy one, get one free
Kilkenny's best back of the Cody years. Maybe didn't get the same fan or media attention as others, but always went about his job in a very unfussed manner.
This definitely is the end of an era.
Without doubt, one of the finest ever to have played the game. Could play anywhere and did. A warrior. A giant. A mighty man.
Thanks for all the memories. I can't help but thinking that KK will be on the wane. Jackie could be next ?.
I honestly can't see Kilkenny being far away next year because the old saying that there is lots of good hurlers in Kilkenny is true.
Quote from: orangeman on December 05, 2014, 11:38:47 AM
This definitely is the end of an era.
Without doubt, one of the finest ever to have played the game. Could play anywhere and did. A warrior. A giant. A mighty man.
Thanks for all the memories. I can't help but thinking that KK will be on the wane. Jackie could be next ?.
That's been said before! We'll see!
Along with Walsh, simply the greatest defender I've ever seen. Absolutely phenomenal. I await Premier Emperor's inevitable slander.
Quote from: nrico2006 on December 05, 2014, 11:52:15 AM
I honestly can't see Kilkenny being far away next year because the old saying that there is lots of good hurlers in Kilkenny is true.
But how do you replace men like these ?.
If they do, they're better than I think they are. They might not be far away but getting back to the very top without these men will be tough.
Quote from: gallsman on December 05, 2014, 12:00:07 PM
Quote from: orangeman on December 05, 2014, 11:38:47 AM
This definitely is the end of an era.
Without doubt, one of the finest ever to have played the game. Could play anywhere and did. A warrior. A giant. A mighty man.
Thanks for all the memories. I can't help but thinking that KK will be on the wane. Jackie could be next ?.
That's been said before! We'll see!
Along with Walsh, simply the greatest defender I've ever seen. Absolutely phenomenal. I await Premier Emperor's inevitable slander.
JJ was a defender in the purest sense. PE will refrain on this occasion I reckon. ;)
Delaney will be a huge loss to Kilkenny. He could easily have stayed on for another year or more.
Of all the retirements they have had, he will be the most sorely missed and I'm not sure if Kilkenny have a replacement earmarked to take over at full back.
Delaney will go down as one of the all time great defenders.
Outstanding defender. Best performance in my view was the AI final against Cork where Ben O'Connor had ran riot for Cork all year and then when he marked JJ he could barely get a strike of the ball. Some of the flicks he did were phenomenal and the diving tackle in this years final was something you'll struggle to see the likes of again.
Always preferred him as a half back and always kind of felt he was plugging a hole at full back!
Quote from: imtommygunn on December 05, 2014, 12:19:32 PM
Outstanding defender. Best performance in my view was the AI final against Cork where Ben O'Connor had ran riot for Cork all year and then when he marked JJ he could barely get a strike of the ball. Some of the flicks he did were phenomenal and the diving tackle in this years final was something you'll struggle to see the likes of again.
Always preferred him as a half back and always kind of felt he was plugging a hole at full back!
Ala Seamie Moynihan.
Of all the recent KK retirements this is one the one Cody will really miss.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on December 05, 2014, 03:21:01 PM
Of all the recent KK retirements this is one the one Cody will really miss.
+1
Yep, he filled a Noel Hickey sized hole in that defense. Who's going to jump in there now? Jackie maybe?
Jackie for the big catching full forwards and Paul Murphy for the pacy ones, horses for courses with Cody.
JJ was an ideal fullback, a bit of pace, good hand, tidy hurler and good decision maker, played hurling when needed and knew when to do the blocking, hooking, skullduggery as well, a managers dream to have.
I'd rate JJ as one of the best hurlers I have ever seen along with tommy, IMO he was a far better wing back than half back.
Probably in my option the best out and out kilkenny defender i seen, said that a few weeks back on the Tommy Walsh threat. Am glad in my time of watching hurling having seen the Like of Brian Lohan, Seam McMahon, Brian Corcoran, Brian Whelehan, Tommy Walsh and now JJ Delaney gone, they be my best 6 defenders of the past 25yrs. All Kilkenny are waiting for is the big one to retire, i wonder is he tempted by another year?
What happened to Noel Hickey? did he pick an injury?
I would tend to disagree with folk saying JJ filled Noel's place, JJ made that position his own, he never looked out of place or of the pace.
Personally i can imagine him Junior hurling when he is 45/50 lining out as a full forward having ball rained down on him and scoring for fun
Quote from: pullhard on December 07, 2014, 12:16:21 PM
What happened to Noel Hickey? did he pick an injury?
I would tend to disagree with folk saying JJ filled Noel's place, JJ made that position his own, he never looked out of place or of the pace.
Personally i can imagine him Junior hurling when he is 45/50 lining out as a full forward having ball rained down on him and scoring for fun
I can see him doing corner back and reading it like a book, getting the ball when the laws of nature say he shouldn't.
Quote from: orangeman on December 07, 2014, 01:45:23 PM
Quote from: pullhard on December 07, 2014, 12:16:21 PM
What happened to Noel Hickey? did he pick an injury?
I would tend to disagree with folk saying JJ filled Noel's place, JJ made that position his own, he never looked out of place or of the pace.
Personally i can imagine him Junior hurling when he is 45/50 lining out as a full forward having ball rained down on him and scoring for fun
I can see him doing corner back and reading it like a book, getting the ball when the laws of nature say he shouldn't.
These have never applied to JJ
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on December 05, 2014, 08:34:33 PM
Probably in my option the best out and out kilkenny defender i seen, said that a few weeks back on the Tommy Walsh threat. Am glad in my time of watching hurling having seen the Like of Brian Lohan, Seam McMahon, Brian Corcoran, Brian Whelehan, Tommy Walsh and now JJ Delaney gone, they be my best 6 defenders of the past 25yrs. All Kilkenny are waiting for is the big one to retire, i wonder is he tempted by another year?
Peter Barry too.
But that just proves that Kilkenny move on quickly, even when top players retire.
Quote from: muppet on December 07, 2014, 05:37:46 PM
Quote from: Wildweasel74 on December 05, 2014, 08:34:33 PM
Probably in my option the best out and out kilkenny defender i seen, said that a few weeks back on the Tommy Walsh threat. Am glad in my time of watching hurling having seen the Like of Brian Lohan, Seam McMahon, Brian Corcoran, Brian Whelehan, Tommy Walsh and now JJ Delaney gone, they be my best 6 defenders of the past 25yrs. All Kilkenny are waiting for is the big one to retire, i wonder is he tempted by another year?
Peter Barry too.
But that just proves that Kilkenny move on quickly, even when top players retire.
For someone who could barely puck a ball, Peter Barry had some career. His striking always seemed awful and I've never seen anyone hand it off or kick it as much. Had a serious paw on him.