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No team picked but here is mine

1) J Dempsey
2.C Hernon
3.B Watkins
4. S Wynne
5.G Treacy
6 D Horan ( think Leonard is very slow and Eoin Reid would destroy him)
7 D Morkam
8 C Mahon
9 J Gorman or D Currams
10 D Currams or P Bermingham
11 J Bergin ( Need a strong centre forward for Paddy Hogan)
12 C Egan ( could cause a lot of damage here)
13 C Coughlan
14 D Molloy ( think Full Forward would suit him)
15 F Kerrigan

any thoughs

The team was announced to the players on Sunday as far as I know with just one change, Daniel Currams coming in for James Gorman. Maybe someone can confirm that for us.

Yeah have that from one of the players! Horan to start and Currams in for Gorman! Hopefully the lads can do the business on Thurs night!!!

After an eight day delay, the first Leinster under 21 hurling final to take place at an Offaly venue goes ahead on Thursday evening with Kilkenny coming to town.

The Kilkenny team were in devastating form in their semi final against a highly Dublin on the Dubs’ home patch. They raced into a nine point lead by the thirteenth minute from which point there was only going to be one winner. While they’ve only two senior panellists in their ranks they are a typical Kilkenny team, skilful, crafty yet strong and physical.

Offaly’s lineout will be dictated by Diarmuid Horan’s availability following his injury picked up against Limerick. Notwithstanding that, the back six should be unchanged. Conor Hernon should pick up the deadly Richie Hogan on whom Kilkenny will look to convert a goal chance or two. In the opposite corner Stephen Wynne will be marking Matthew Ruth, a man with a big pedigree. Full forward Nicky Cleere helped himself to three points from play against Dublin and will test Brian Watkins’ full back capabilities.

The Kilkenny half forward line dominated under the dropping ball against Dublin. TJ Reid was strangely quite that day and having started at centre half forward was moved around the field quite a bit in a bid to bring him into the game. This will be a huge test of Brian Leonard who has not convinced at centre half back this year. Colin Fennelly is a typical Kilkenny forward, tall and powerful and able to take a score, of which he scored three in the first half against Dublin. Derek Morkan will need to be at his best here. John Mulhall has the hurling style of Ger Oakley and Ger Treacy will probably, once again, be targeted by the opposition under the puck out.

As mentioned Diarmuid Horan’s availability is crucial to Offaly. If fit he will probably charges with marking James Dowling, a young man blessed with a stroke reminiscent of DJ Carey. Conor Mahon is crucial to Offaly and his workrate will be crucial.

Kilkenny seem to have settled on centre half back for Paddy Hogan who has played much of his hurling at centre field though he lined out at full forward for the county intermediate side recently. He was a powerhouse against Dublin and Colin Egan needs to stop him getting possession and setting up Kilkenny attacks. Offaly’s half forward line went out of the game completely in the second half against Wexford. Tomorrow evening they will need to contest everything, gather what they can and at least keep the ball moving into Joseph Bergin and Francis Kerrigan. Bergin as we know is back in form while Kerrigan is also in confident mood and even if he doesn’t get the ball makes sure his opponent doesn’t get it.

The sides have met twenty times in this grade with Kilkenny accumulating thirteen wins, Offaly six while they drew in 1977. An interesting note about previous Offaly Kilkenny meetings at this grade is that Kilkenny’s smallest winning margin is five points (1993) followed by eight points in the first meeting in 1968 and nine point margins in 1969 and 1971. In other words, Offaly have come out on top in any tight matches between the two which would have occurred where Offaly were geared up for the win and went for it. In addition, Offaly have won four of the seven finals between the two counties.

There should be a buzz of anticipation about Offaly following an upturm in the county’s hurling fortunes. The forecasted attendance of ten thousand is probably wildly overestimated but the recent buzz in the county coupled with a fine evening should ensure a decent attendance all the same.

It’s a big ask for Offaly to try and overcome Kilkenny and there is perhaps a degree of unnecessary expectation on their shoulders given the home venue. It will be interesting to see how they cope with the longer and wider O’Connor Park and the newer part of the playing surface appeared to ‘cut up’ during the footballers match against Westmeath despite the fine evening.

Kilkenny will probably go or the jugular early on and try and put Offaly away as soon as they can (as they did against Dublin) rather them allow the home team grow in stature. If Offaly can survive the opening salvo they’ll be in with a chance but otherwise it could be a long evening for the home side.

1968 Kilkenny 4-8 Offaly 2-6
1969 Kilkenny 3-8 Offaly 1-5
1971 Kilkenny 0-15 Offaly 1-3
1972 Offaly 5-7 Kilkenny 2-6
1977 Kilkenny 0-14 Offaly 2-8
Replay Kilkenny 1-15 Offaly 1-5
1981 Kilkenny 3-17 Offaly 2-4
1982 Kilkenny 5-20 Offaly 2-6 FINAL
1985 Kilkenny 6-9 Offaly 2-7
1988 Kilkenny 3-13 Offaly 2-5 FINAL
1989 Offaly 3-16 Kilkenny 3-9 FINAL
1990 Kilkenny 4-11 Offaly 1-9
1991 Offaly 2-10 Kilkenny 0-12 FINAL
1992 Offaly 1-15 Kilkenny 2-10 FINAL
1993 Kilkenny 1-13 Offaly 1-8
1998 Kilkenny 3-24 Offaly 1-10
1999 Kilkenny 1-17 Offaly 1-6 FINAL
2000 Offaly 3-14 Kilkenny 2-14 FINAL
2003 Kilkenny 2-18 Offaly 0-10
2007 Offaly 1-13 Kilkenny 0-13

I wonder who's refereeing?

Anthony Stapleton (Leix)

Efan wrote:Anthony Stapleton (Leix)

Thank Christ it isn't Haverty
I wouldn't have fancied Sexton of Cork either. Once he took the bold step of penalising Little Tommy Walsh of pushing against Offaly, he felt he had give Kilkenny every free for about 10 minutes afterwards.

Bord na Mona man wrote:

Efan wrote:Anthony Stapleton (Leix)

Thank Christ it isn't Haverty
I wouldn't have fancied Sexton of Cork either. Once he took the bold step of penalising Little Tommy Walsh of pushing against Offaly, he felt he had give Kilkenny every free for about 10 minutes afterwards.

Satapleton is just as bad in my opinion. Has that chip on his shoulder re Offaly hurling that alot of Laois lads seem to have and like alot of refs, tends to give Kilkenny an easy ride.
A couple of weeks ago I was very confident but KK's demolition of Dublin in Parnell and the appointment of Stapleton are getting me very nervous.. hopefully it's just cold feet and everything will work out as expected but I fear.... god i hope I'm wrong!!!!!

Over the black you are correct when i was a Minor Selector Stapleton did us many a time. The standard of Refs in Leinster is poor Barry Kelly probably the best followed by Brian Gavin. Bit the likes of Dickie Murphy, Neary, Dunphy,Devereux are brutal.

Over The Black Spot wrote: Satapleton is just as bad in my opinion. Has that chip on his shoulder re Offaly hurling that alot of Laois lads seem to have and like alot of refs, tends to give Kilkenny an easy ride.
A couple of weeks ago I was very confident but KK's demolition of Dublin in Parnell and the appointment of Stapleton are getting me very nervous.. hopefully it's just cold feet and everything will work out as expected but I fear.... god i hope I'm wrong!!!!!

Stapleton refereed the Ballyboden - Birr game.
I don't immediately recall any bad decisions he gave against Birr?
I'm not sure what other Offaly games he has done?

A lot of Leix hurling people have no love of Kilkenny hurling mind.
I think the greater problem is that refs are generally very afraid to give the decisions against teams like Kilkenny.
No ref wants to be the person who had any assistance in upsetting the "apple tart".
If Kilkenny won via a few dodgy decisions or not, no-one in the hurling world will particular notice.
If Offaly win, then the microscopes will be out.

Remember, in everyone's eyes, Offaly never win matches like tonight, Kilkenny lose them!
It will either be the ref, the selection, or God knows what else.
There will be a reason and a lot of houses have to be visited before the conclusion that Offaly might have been better would be contemplated.
Sure apparently it was the rain that beat Kilkenny in '95, not Offaly!

Back to the point. Stapleton may be swayed not by any dislike of Offaly, but by a fear of having a hand in something unexpected.

surely the ref cant be as bad as saturday . we seem to have being getting alot of refs that have clearly favoured the other teams waterford and meath being the most recent.all we ask is that we get fairplay .

Bord na Mona man wrote:

Over The Black Spot wrote:

Remember, in everyone's eyes, Offaly never win matches like tonight, Kilkenny lose them!
It will either be the ref, the selection, or God knows what else.
There will be a reason and a lot of houses have to be visited before the conclusion that Offaly might have been better would be contemplated.
Sure apparently it was the rain that beat Kilkenny in '95, not Offaly!

I think you are wrong here. I don't think too many people will be surprised if Offaly win this one. Inferiority complex getting you down. Offaly are going into this match with 12 senior panelists and 6 starters. Kilkenny have 2 panelists. Offaly beat them in their own backyard last year. Offaly should believe they are better, go out and hurl and prove it.

The referee makes very little difference to the vast majority of results. Even at the weekend, Haverty had a clanger or two, but when the game was there for the winning Waterford's experience and Offaly's nervousness in sight of the post came through. The experience will stand to them in the next few years hopefully.

corner back wrote:

Bord na Mona man wrote:

Over The Black Spot wrote:

Remember, in everyone's eyes, Offaly never win matches like tonight, Kilkenny lose them!
It will either be the ref, the selection, or God knows what else.
There will be a reason and a lot of houses have to be visited before the conclusion that Offaly might have been better would be contemplated.
Sure apparently it was the rain that beat Kilkenny in '95, not Offaly!

I think you are wrong here. I don't think too many people will be surprised if Offaly win this one. Inferiority complex getting you down. Offaly are going into this match with 12 senior panelists and 6 starters. Kilkenny have 2 panelists. Offaly beat them in their own backyard last year. Offaly should believe they are better, go out and hurl and prove it.

The referee makes very little difference to the vast majority of results. Even at the weekend, Haverty had a clanger or two, but when the game was there for the winning Waterford's experience and Offaly's nervousness in sight of the post came through. The experience will stand to them in the next few years hopefully.

I think a few people will be surprised to be honest. This KK panel have been training specifically for this championship with very little senior panel intrusion and are hoppping to beat Offaly tonight. Last year's defeat wasn't taken too kindly.
Personally, I think KK might be that bit better balanced with more scoring options up front.
I don't want to come across all doom and gloom, I hope alot can be taken from the manner in which we play the game tonight as well as the scoreline. Of course it'd be great to beat KK and it would be good for the players' confidence but we have to bear in mind some facts when managing our expectation. In last years final, Dublin outhurled us for loads of it and the goals kept us in it until Dublin eventually sealed the deal. Alot of this same Dublin team were taken apart by KK in the semi-final and you can have little doubt that this is a KK team on a mission.
How we take them on will reveal lots about some of these Offaly lads. I hope to fcuk we beat them but if not, we better let them know they were in a game for the full 60 minutes.

corner back wrote: I think you are wrong here. I don't think too many people will be surprised if Offaly win this one. Inferiority complex getting you down. Offaly are going into this match with 12 senior panelists and 6 starters. Kilkenny have 2 panelists. Offaly beat them in their own backyard last year. Offaly should believe they are better, go out and hurl and prove it.

The referee makes very little difference to the vast majority of results. Even at the weekend, Haverty had a clanger or two, but when the game was there for the winning Waterford's experience and Offaly's nervousness in sight of the post came through. The experience will stand to them in the next few years hopefully.

Maybe so, my experiences mightn't be necessarily a representative sample and I would be the first to admit bias.

I think that Offaly having more senior panelists is more an indication of the differing strengths of the senior panels though. As is usually the case at underage, Kilkenny's weakest 3 or 4 players are usually are fair bit better than Offaly's weakest 3 or 4 players. This can often be a bigger deciding factor in the result rather than marquee players winning it.