Galway v Kilkenny 1/4 final

[Silky]

Galway to get stuffed and Ger to walk. His whole approach is old fashioned now and it clearly doesn't impress the Galway lads. All will be revealed on Saturday but I think Galway will be doing well to get within 10 pts. The Cats will win the All Ireland.

[FTJC]

Mouview,

I don't think Cloonan & Hardi were playing well anyway. Cloonan slows up the play too much and looks like a man that has clocked too many hurling miles. Hardi was too loose and unfit. Remeber Ben O'Connor scored 1-5 in the 2005 final off him.

I hope he picks the fast snappy hurlers he put out against Antrim as thats our only hope.

[neilthemac]

Byrne warns Galway to prepare for hard stuff or take up tennis


By Jackie Cahill
Thursday July 26 2007

FORMER Kilkenny captain Denis Byrne has turned up the heat ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland hurling quarter-final by warning Galway to prepare for a physical onslaught from the Cats at Croke Park.

And Byrne has told the Galway players that if they can't handle the physical stuff, they should "take up squash or tennis".

Byrne has revealed how the Cats were issued with a "no retaliation" directive before the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final between the sides.

And he believes that Kilkenny's recent success came about as a result of a significant shift in policy following that shock loss.

He revealed: "Kilkenny were issued with a directive of no retaliation that day because they were expecting Galway to try the heavy stuff from the start.

"It backfired on Kilkenny. - Brian McEvoy got a few shots from Richie Murray before the throw-in but didn't react.

"Kilkenny were a much more physical team than Galway, but Galway out-ran them and even going back to the 1980s, it was Galway's pace that has troubled Kilkenny more than anything.

"And two years ago, they opened up the Kilkenny backs and scored five goals.¨

Byrne was a member of the last Kilkenny team to defeat Galway at Croke Park, back in 2000.

Byrne believes that current Galway boss Ger Loughnane is playing a dangerous game with his pre-match claims of Kilkenny "savagery".

Byrne added: "Ger Loughnane obviously feels that he needs to go that way because he knows Kilkenny are a very physical team and he's trying to protect the Galway lads.

"But hurling is a physical game and if Galway can't handle it, they shouldn't be playing inter-county hurling. They'd be better off taking up squash or tennis."

[neilthemac]

Lyng and Fogarty back for Kilkenny
Friday, 27 July 2007 09:40

Derek Lyng and Aidan Fogarty have both recovered from injury and have been named in the Kilkenny team for tomorrow's All Ireland hurling quarter-final against Galway.

The Ballyhale duo Michael Fennelly and Eoin Reid make way from the team that won the Leinster final.

Noel Hickey has been named at full-back despite concerns over his fitness.

Kilkenny are taking nothing for granted and Martin Comerford, who has been selected to play at right half-forward insisted: 'There certainly won't be any complacency on Kilkenny's part.'

'We have lost four Championship matches since 2000 and Galway have beaten us in two of them which is a poor record. We've beaten them twice in the meantime so this is a kind of deciding encounter on Saturday.

'Whoever wins is playing an All-Ireland semi-final and that's the carrot at the end of the line,' he added.

Kilkenny (SHC v Galway): PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, JJ Delaney; J Fitzpatrick, D Lyng; M Comerford, E Brennan, E Larkin ; A Fogarty, H Shefflin, W O'Dwyer.

[Stay goalside of your man]

Has the Galway team been named yet, or is Ger going tp announce it just before the game

[Croí na hÉireann]

Awful bad feeling that Galway are gonna get blown away...

[Stay goalside of your man]

I dont think they will to be honest, although I dont think they will win.
If Kilkenny allow them to play hurling which I think they will, I can see Galway putting up a good score.
At the same time its hard to see them winning.
But dont right them off, this is when Galway are at there most dangerous.

[heineken_on_tap]

Sure Galway have shown no form at all under Loughnanne so if there is a big game in them it has to be Sunday.  Should be a tough opening 20 minutes with both teams having some serious forwards . I would worry about the Galway full back line though and for that reason would expect kK to come through with 5 or 6 points to spare.

[Stay goalside of your man]

Ya not expecting the win, but the players seem to have confidence in them selves. So why not get behind them. I agree the full back line could be better, but I think Galway will just have to take the attitude for all out attack rather than be defensively minded if they are going to win.

[Stay goalside of your man]

Can we win it lads. Up Galway.

[Stay goalside of your man]

1-18 each 60 minutes gone

[Stay goalside of your man]

Feck this for a game of soilders, we didnt deserve this.

[Tubberman]

The worst thing is that it is now Kilkenny v Wexford in the semi final.

[Owenmoresider]

The worst thing is that it is now Kilkenny v Wexford in the semi final.

Hear hear. Another one-sided affair in prospect probably, even if Wexford decide to try a leg this time.

[thejuice]

My god, Galway could not get the ball to their men at all today. the Kilkenny half backs made a rag of the Galway half forwards. if it wasnt for the gutsy performance of the Galway backs the inevitable defeat would have been evident alot earlier. Cloonan got 1 touch of the sliotar. I hope to God Wexford have something in them to stand against the Cats.