McGrath: Kilkenny appear devoid of plan or structure
Shane McGrath expects a huge Kilkenny performance this weekend when they look to get their Leinster title defence back on track against Wexford, but felt their defeat to Galway was reminiscent of a team without a plan or structure.
Having suffered an 18-point trimming in Salthill during an underwhelming league campaign, the Cats arrived at Pearse Stadium with plenty of fuel to begin their bid for a seventh provincial crown.
However the Tribes once again dominated the visitors, easing their way to victory with 15 points to spare.
On commentary duties for the game, McGrath observed a Kilkenny team that seemed to have little conviction in what they were doing.
"Kilkenny are trying to do what everyone else is doing, but without a plan or structure," he said on the RTÉ GAA Podcast. "Trying to work a ball through the lines, make space inside.
"Galway were sticking with one person inside and alternating around. Everyone else comes out the field.
"That caused Kilkenny a lot of bother, particularly if you look at the Rory Burke goal, it was isolating the man one-on-one inside.
"They found it very hard to work the ball with the breeze. They scored nine points with the breeze, five points from play.
"They just could not get the ball past Galway's 45 in the second half."
Next up for Derek Lyng’s men is the visit of Wexford, fresh from an opening round win over Kildare to UPMC Nowlan Park.
Patrick Horgan earlier this week said his main concern for Kilkenny would be their inability to run up big scores.
McGrath, a two-time All-Ireland winner in his playing days with Tipperary, agrees that the forward line is an area that needs improvement.
"The reliance (against Galway) was still going route one to TJ Reid," he said. "The few times they did go long, he either won the ball or broke the ball. He was still their top scorer from play.
"Eoin Cody chipped in with two points from play, but I’m sure there was a frustration with those two in particular as it just didn’t happen for the other forwards.
"They looked devoid of a structure or a gameplan. As championship performances go for Kilkenny, it was one of their poorest in a long time."
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