Theres no doubt that the recent retirements of Herity,Walsh,Hogan,Taggy and JJ will leave a void in the Kilkenny dressing room.Bar JJ,and to a lesser extent B Hogan,they havnt contributed much on the field of play in recent years,but their input into Kilkennys legendary high intensity training matches in Nowlan Park over the years cannot be underestimated.It is these high quality matches that have the chosen 15 is such peak condition game after game.Year after year.Also to have these men absent from the dressing room has to be a loss.I would imagine,when going out to face Tipp,Clare,Galway etc,when you look around the dressing room and see men of the calibre of T Walsh,B Hogan and JJ Delaney,it would inspire confidence in everyone.Their absense will be keenly felt,leaving a big leadership void throughout the team.It will weaken Kilkenny,no doubt about it.
I had Kilkenny as marginal favourites for next years All Ireland.That was before JJ decided to call it a day.I wasnt expecting him to hang up the boots.I would have Clare now as slight favourites.Kilkenny are definately not as formidable at present.The chasing pack are closing in.Im not convinced there is any gap anymore.Next years All Ireland is wide open.This will be the first time in over 10- 15 years that i am not making Kilkenny favourites.It is time for the other counties to step up.I believe they will.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 08/12/2014 15:15:08    1677397

I hear you Cuedrocket

I would still have them favourites. Their starting 15 is still as good as what is around- better in fact. It will be interesting to see though. KK were lucky that Henry, Eddie B, Noel Hickey, JJ and Tommy Walsh all came in the same team. Only one of them remains now and I see his role as inspiring others, bringing others into the game rather doing massive damage himself (then again he didn't do too badly yesterday!). Their bench is not as ominous as previous. When you are playing in the half backs and you see Tommy walsh and Brian Hogan sitting and waiting to come in, does this drive you on a bit more? I think there is more even playing field but i still think KK are favourites for next year.

Clare are next. I agree. Tipp after that and then Limerick. Hard to know what Dublin, Wexford, Cork and Galway will do. Was their exit from the championship a blip/off day or a statement of where they are? Time will tell.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 08/12/2014 16:08:58    1677422

9 teams good enough to beat anyone on their day = Kilkenny, Clare, Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Dublin, Wexford, Galway, Waterford.

5 real contenders to win 2015 AI = Kilkenny, Clare, Cork, Tipperary, Limerick.

Everyone talks about how good this year and last year was and in fairness both seasons were brilliant. But I really can't wait for 2015. Clare and Limerick are going to go extremely close to winning the all-Ireland in 2015.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 08/12/2014 16:25:55    1677426

i would think there are 6 teams that can aall beat each other possibly 7. the seventh team being galway - they have the ability to challenge but there is just something about them that never convinces. waterford are in my opinion another year or 2 off challenging with the top teams, but they are a young team building in the right direction. and it doesnt take 5 or 6 years to make the step up with a new team so as early at 2016 they could be able to mix it with the other big teams and dont be srprised if the cause an upset or 2 in 2015.
as for wexford i dont really rate them, i think they massively over achieved this year in beating clare and waterford. the limerick game was a more telling reflection of where they are at. in all honesty they are a poor enough team and in my opinion are certainly closer to the likes of offaly, laois, antrim and westmeath rather than the top 8 teams. lee chin, jack guiney and conor mcdonald are top young players though and will carry the hopes of the county on their shoulders for the coming years.....

hurlingexpert (Clare) - Posts: 1941 - 08/12/2014 16:52:08    1677435

Kilkenny are still favourites for me only slightly though,i'd have clare limk and tipp grouped together as i don't see much between them and its one of these that will win the all irl with maybe cork an outside chance as they have an easier route than the other 3 from munster i mentioned

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 08/12/2014 16:56:15    1677438

Galway are the joker in the pack because they could literally go from a ranking of 6th to 1st in the blink of an eye. Even though I have a lot of time for Anthony Cunningham, I have lost faith in the I players, they must drive their fans mental.

Dublin are another one that could go either way and it will be interesting to see how the other Cunningham fares with them.

Tipp, Cork and Limerick look like they are building towards something but only one team can win it. 2015 will be a huge year for Clare, they have to get back to 2013 levels and above. Kilkenny are still the benchmark until someone knocks they off their perennial perch.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 08/12/2014 17:46:43    1677450

I think one of Limerick or Clare year will be over by july. The team that lose that game will have a massive effect on them and don't see who ever lose bouncing back from it. I have a fancy for Limerick I really think if they can win Munster they will take some stoping. I worry for Tipp as it seems we need to be playing KK for them to bring out the best in us. For me it's KK Limerick or Tipp to win Liam

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 08/12/2014 20:03:21    1677482

Hope you're right Realtmo but imo big big ask for Limerick next yr to win either munster or the All irl,clare first then tipp and more than likely cork in the final just to get thru munster then 2 more to win All irl.I know if we were to get thru clare we'd have tipp at home and then if cork get over Waterford which is no guarantee we'd have cork at home but still huge ask.But I agree with you I think the winners will come from kk tipp and limerick but would add clare and maybe cork

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 09/12/2014 11:29:33    1677549

Someday
Heartily agree Clare are serious contenders next year.However I feel Cork will take another few years to be serious contenders. As regards Limericks chances in Munster. If we can edge past Clare we have both Tipp and Cork, although Waterford could easily stick a spanner in Corks plans, at home.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4338 - 09/12/2014 19:17:16    1677695

Have Waterford home advantage against Cork or did I pick up something wrong ?

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 10/12/2014 11:09:32    1677785

Is Walsh Park big enough to hold a big Munster Championship game v Cork?

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 10/12/2014 12:08:43    1677805

I think this was proposed before but I thought it was dead in the water

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 10/12/2014 12:15:01    1677807

Wildpundit
They played each other in Thurles last Year and since Pairc Ui Caoimh would be unavailable for the next few years its hardly likely they would go Home and Away just now. Anyway Cork have a sworn allergy to playing in Walsh Park. After losing there to Waterford about forty years Denis Conroy, the the Cork Co Chairman, was asked what he thought of the famous old Stadium. 'The place should be ploughed up' was his succinct reply.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4338 - 10/12/2014 14:23:37    1677835

40 years on and hes still right. Absolutely worse county ground in the country

deadybai (Kilkenny) - Posts: 63 - 10/12/2014 16:19:21    1677866

Dublin are gone...wont be back .
Big year for Limerick....42 years and waiting for such a proud hurling county, be great if the could do it. Limerick are 4th in the role of honour and imagine they only have one all Ireland since 1940...The country would go crazy if Limerick won.
I think Waterford too are gone for a while aswell, their best chance and last chance was in `07.
My rankings are
1. Tipp 2.Clare
The chasing pack
3. Limerick
4.Kilkenny
5. Galway
Falling behind
6.Cork, 7.Wexford, 8.Dublin,9. Waterford

preddan (Kildare) - Posts: 739 - 10/12/2014 18:49:49    1677889

as for wexford i dont really rate them, i think they massively over achieved this year in beating clare and waterford. the limerick game was a more telling reflection of where they are at. in all honesty they are a poor enough team and in my opinion are certainly closer to the likes of offaly, laois, antrim and westmeath rather than the top 8 teams
Quote from a ' Hurling Expert Clare.

Well thank you good sir for reminding us of our proper place in the hurling world.

Linebacker (Wexford) - Posts: 100 - 10/12/2014 21:01:29    1677922

preddan
County: Kildare
Posts: 157

Yes preddan its been a terrible time for us but we've lost 5 or 6 finals and a few semi;s too since we won our last one and whatever about the country going mad i know we'd go mad down here if we could win one.As this thread is about kk 2015 and i still think they'll be the ones to beat .Again.

someday (Limerick) - Posts: 1104 - 11/12/2014 20:02:43    1678117

Someday Limerick for the first time stood up last year V Kk when it really mattered, forget the wins V Tipp and Cork in the last two years, even tho Limerick lost to KK that was the most important game Limerick played. They really became a very good team that day V Kk and are the only other team outside of Tipp that have matched Kk in a big game when it really mattered (knockout hurling) This is why I think Limerick are real contenders in 15

therealtmo (Tipperary) - Posts: 1292 - 11/12/2014 20:28:02    1678119

Didn't Wexford beat Clare in this year's qualifiers?. Cork beat them in this year's Munster SHC. Thanks 'Hurling expert from Clare,'in pointing out our place in the hurling world, we know Offaly are in a bad place. Since when did Clare become a hurling superpower?

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1746 - 11/12/2014 21:08:19    1678133

If Cody leads KK to and AI in 2015, it will surely be an even greater achievement than winning the 2006 final when KK were in another transition after losing the likes of Peter Barry, Philly Larkin, John Power, John Hoyne and DJ Carey to name a few. They will still take some beating though. Still huge experience among the panel. Be interesting to see what kind of players they have coming up that can replace the outgoing 5 or 6.

Faithfull (Offaly) - Posts: 573 - 11/12/2014 21:43:20    1678143