Kilkenny leave two positions open for final clash with Galway

DEFENDING champions Kilkenny have left two vacancies on their team for Sunday’s All-Ireland MHC final against Galway.

Regular full back John Tennyson is still recovering from an operation and a decision on his fitness won’t be made until the morning of the game, while the right half forward position has also been left vacant.

One definite change from the team which defeated Cork in the semi-final sees Maurice Nolan take over from Richard Wall at right corner forward. The O’Loughlin Gaels player came on as a sub against the Leesiders.

A positional switch sees Donncha Cody move from centre back to right half with Dave Prendergast taking over the pivotal position. Cody is son of senior coach Brian.

Other players on the team whose fathers won senior All-Ireland medals are Dave Prendergast (son of Paddy) and Richie Power (son of Richie).

Left half forward Alan Healy is a son of Dermot Healy who coached both Kilkenny and Offaly seniors in the past, and who is currently hurling development officer with the Dublin County Board.

Galway have made two changes from the team which defeated Tipperary 2-19 to 2-16 in their semi-final. Dermot Ryan comes in at right half back for Michael Donnellan while Niall Coleman is preferred to Martin Nester at left half forward.

This will be the first meeting between the counties in the final since 1993 when Kilkenny were successful.

The entire Galway full forward line of Derek Reilly, Aengus Callanan and Niall Healy will all line out with Limerick IT in next year’s Fitzgibbon Cup.

It’s been 10 years since the counties last met in the final when victory went to Kilkenny. Since then they have met regularly in semi-finals with Galway having the better of the exchanges.

KILKENNY (MH v Galway): C. Grant (Emeralds); J. Dalton (Carrigshock), AN Other, S. Cadogan (St. Lactains); D. Cody (James Stephens), D. Prendergast (Clara), P. O’Donovan (Castlecomer); P. Hartley (Tullaroan), M. Fennessy (Ballyhale Shamrocks); AN Other, R. Power (Carrigshock), A. Healy (Conagh Shamrocks); M. Nolan (O’Loughlin Gaels), J. Fitzpatrick (Ballyhale Shamrocks), E. Guinan (St. Lactains).

GALWAY (MH v Kilkenny): A. Ryan; T. Linnane, J. Mahon, D. Kennedy; D. Ryan, J. Lee, R. Whyte; C. Burke, D. Kelly; N. Callanan, D. Garvey, N. Coleman; D. Reilly, A. Callanan, N. Healy.