Alot of talk on here and social media will be about the debut of SkySports, But in the midst of all that, Kilkenny have lay down a serious marker.

5-32, Most, If scores from play.

Offaly offered very little, But they didnt let up.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 07/06/2014 20:44:45    1599565

I'm going to say it now, Not a very bold prediction, Or maybe it is if we base it on last year, But Kilkenny will regain their crown in september.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 07/06/2014 20:46:41    1599566

Don't let what happened last year fool you. Id say Kilkenny will win 6 or 7 all Irelands a decade for the next couple of generations.
Its early days, and offaly, while they may not have let up, are poor, but the cats are back.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 07/06/2014 20:48:30    1599568

I didn't see the game (no Sky Sports unfortunately) but it certainly looks like they laid down a serious marker.

However, a bad, bad day for Offaly hurling.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 07/06/2014 20:50:46    1599571

What a shambles.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2897 - 07/06/2014 20:53:42    1599577

Well you never know, Offaly were only cannon fodder today, Kilkenny will meet far better opposition later in the year, they're aim now should be to retain their Leinster crown and take it from there.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 07/06/2014 20:53:43    1599578

Wayno I did not see the game but can you judge it on one game? Was Offaly that poor?

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 07/06/2014 20:59:04    1599583

I didn't see the game (no Sky Sports unfortunately) but it certainly looks like they laid down a serious marker.

However, a bad, bad day for Offaly hurling

___________________________________

Woeful day for Offaly, Expected them to at least make it competitive but it was over as soon as Kilkenny took a 6 point lead.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 07/06/2014 20:59:20    1599584

Kilkenny were awesome but Offaly were awful!

Supermacs88 (Galway) - Posts: 248 - 07/06/2014 20:59:39    1599585

Agree with you Htaem.

Can see Kilkenny walking through Leinster without much hassle, However i said the same last year even after the first drawn Dublin game and i was wrong.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 07/06/2014 21:00:37    1599590

Wayno I did not see the game but can you judge it on one game? Was Offaly that poor?

________________


Ollie the scoreboard tells you what you need to know...

It was over as a contest before the first goal was scored.

It's a shame it was so one sided but Kilkenny where unmerciful in every way.

The hunger was there throughout.

The reason i made the bold prediction about them regaining their All-Ireland title is bold for exactly the reason others are pointing out, Because it was such a one sided game.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 07/06/2014 21:05:27    1599602

Ye by and large the Leinster hurling championship is in good health at the minute, I mean you have Kilkenny, Galway, the rise of Dublin hurling and Wexford, who can be very competitive when they're in the mood. It's a far cry Kilkenny moonwalking their way through Leinster which they did for 15 odd years and I don't think they'll have it too easy this year either, long may the competition last.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 07/06/2014 21:12:01    1599609

Obviously its impressive stuff from Kilkenny, Kilkenny are a great team, but the scoreline has more to do with how bad Offaly were than how good Kilkenny were. And its a real pity, having grown up with the beautiful skills of the Offaly teams of the 80's and 90's, its really disheartening to watch.
But they're form had been poor. Squeeking past Kerry in a playoff to avoid relegation to div 2, heavy defeats in challenges coming to this match etc, writing was on the wall. They would have shipped a heavy result against 3 or 4 of the other top counties, if they'd played the same way.

I actually feel a bit sorry for Kilkenny, they're playing kind of a new system, and they needed a real test to see how it would hold up under pressure. Perversely, I think Galway's fright against Laois will better help them prepare for the semi-final. I still think Tipp and Kilkenny will meet in the qualifiers or quarters, with Kilkenny beating us again, but not winning the All Ireland. But we'll see, I still think its all to play for, there are no clear favourites yet.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 07/06/2014 21:16:26    1599615

They'll blow us away in 2 Weeks time ; (

Supermacs88 (Galway) - Posts: 248 - 07/06/2014 21:16:33    1599616

Wayno I did not see the game but can you judge it on one game? Was Offaly that poor?

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 07/06/2014 21:34:07    1599646

I think Galway are much better than what the general consensus of them is. I think they will put it up to Kilkenny.

On a side note Wexford have really improved this year.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 07/06/2014 21:47:42    1599655

Endured a crap match, in the truest sense, a sad day for Offaly hurling, a bad day for hurling. Says NOTHING about Kilkenny as a team, nothing at all as for the production........

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 07/06/2014 22:00:57    1599666

Would call it a serious marker. Offaly have taken their challenge match form into the championship. They have (unfortunately) being getting beaten off the field in their challenge games as of late. It is sad to see. That game will do KK or Offaly no favours at all. Offaly need a full review of current structures/processes etc and need to start from the bottom up. They are a great GAA county and it is sad to see them ship such beatings.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2479 - 08/06/2014 08:12:11    1599669

I think the whole country would like to see a Clare v Kilkenny final this year.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 08/06/2014 09:17:04    1599680

Serious marker , not having it , Offaly and I dont enjoy saying it were horrendous , if Dublin beat Laois well , or Mayo were to say hockey The Rossies are they laying down a marker ? No its expected and fans will come out with the catchphrase you can only beat whats put in front of you , or the well rehearsed we learnt nothing from that game etc , kilkenny will be thereabouts come Sept or so , its hard not to be impressed with the score the cats put up , but yesterday sadly said more about Offaly than anything else , there in a very poor place football and hurling .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 08/06/2014 09:51:48    1599688