SENIOR HURLING FINAL 2024

[kingscounty]

Congrats to KK and hard luck to Ballinamere a lot closer in the end.

[Faithful Future]

Great game given the atrocious conditions. I thought a lot of the county players stood up today.

For Ballinamere Ross Ravenhill had a good showing while the midfield pair worked hard. Brian Duignan and Dan Bourke performed very well and overall the team can be proud of their performance in their first final - I have no doubt they will be back and today showed they have the credentials to win a county title.

KK have The Magician to thank for bringing the cup home. A lot of their forwards struggled including Mitchell who has had a superb year. Ter Guinan has really stepped up this year and he along with Colin Spain put in a great shift in the middle third.

Despite their skill levels, when it comes to the business end of club championships the ground is going to be heavy and I wonder over the coming years who is going to play Conor Mahons role. He is such an outlet for them and a very consistent performer for many years now. But that's for another day.

Congratulations to KK who will hopefully go deep into the club championship and well done to both teams for producing the skill and passion today in testing conditions.

[Hasselhoff]

Kiely was a big loss for kk today

[FlyOnTheWall]

A bit of a shootout between Screeney and Duignan which Screeney just about edged in the last 5 minutes.

I thought Troy was excellent too and kept them in it at times.

No doubt the weather helped B/D but their work rate, intensity and physicality seemed to shock K/K for most of the game who have the more talented 15 but couldn’t get going at all.

It’s clear the later we get in the year the more challenging it becomes for a lot of K/K’s stars to shine and they’ll find it very very difficult in Kilkenny in a couple of weeks. November hurling is a whole different ball game to May.

[SearingDrive]

A bit of a shootout between Screeney and Duignan which Screeney just about edged in the last 5 minutes.

I thought Troy was excellent too and kept them in it at times.

No doubt the weather helped B/D but their work rate, intensity and physicality seemed to shock K/K for most of the game who have the more talented 15 but couldn’t get going at all.

It’s clear the later we get in the year the more challenging it becomes for a lot of K/K’s stars to shine and they’ll find it very very difficult in Kilkenny in a couple of weeks. November hurling is a whole different ball game to May.

A test of dogged endurance in November. Leinster will be a test.

[Hasselhoff]

Are kk a bit over rated?

[private joker]

No, they are not. Conditions had a huge influence on the game. Are kk the best team in leinster, not sure.

[JimBwobb]

Are kk a bit over rated?

Conditions had a massive part to play.

They played a star studded Na Piarsaigh team in a challenge game 3 weeks ago and the first half was very competitive and was helter-skelter and was 2 10 to 1 13 until the second half subs were rolling on and off every few mins

[Géill Slí]

First round Leinster is in Carlow, Dr Cullen Park, vs St Mullins, not Kilkenny. I would caution not to look too far beyond that.

[private joker]

Always have to be cautious, especially with weather conditions. St mullins last competitive game was on the 18th of August. That's a long time.

[Gobbler]

Well done to KK. Without question, the better team and the best in this county.

They looked a bit flat and the conditions were difficult. But just remember, the ground was not soft. It was pretty solid and they will slog in a heavier pitch as the weeks tick by. That can be harder handle for slighter players.

Bit disppointed with alot of the sledging that Ballinamere engaged in. I know, I know its everywhere now, but I bloody hate that crap. Lads go out and play hard but bloody fair and honest. The other side of it though is KK will get worse in their next game so its probably not bad from a prep point of view to harden them up. But I think its something that the GAA in general needs to cut out of the game.

Next up, a trip to Carlow. Big big challenge. This is a step up and this time of the year will suit the more physical team. I know somebody mentioned its a long time gap since the Carlow final was played. You look at it though that have given them a nice period to celebrate and put in a heavy block of hard training to attack the leinster campaign. I know a few boys in Carlow and Kilkenny and they hurl a huge amount of games against kilkenny and Wexford opposition and have been recently too. They will be primed coming into Leinster.

[SearingDrive]

Are kk a bit over rated?

KK got a real test from Ballinamere on Sunday, their first tough challenge in the hurling championship. They passed it, but they can expect similar games in Leinster.

[private joker]

Leinster wide open now.

[Doon Exile]

Leinster wide open now.

Thomastown intermediate champions last year and now senior champions.

I was actually talking to a Kilkenny lad I know today and he tipped thomstown to win.

[Géill Slí]

Q for anyone closer to the action than I am: Did KK beat Na Fianna in a challenge match recently? Not that challenge matches tell you a whole lot, but just interested to know.