Final blow for Kilkenny as freak injury rules Hogan out

KILKENNY centre-back Brian Hogan will miss the All-Ireland final after suffering a hand injury.

Hogan suffered the freak injury after getting his hand caught in an opponent’s jersey.

Compounding matters for Kilkenny, Hogan’s obvious replacement, John Tennyson, is also doubtful, still trying to recover from a cruciate injury.

With both now likely to miss the All-Ireland final, it creates a headache for manager Brian Cody and his selectors.

If Hogan and Tennyson are both out, it leaves a major dilemma.

One man who understands that better than most is former Kilkenny All-Ireland winning manager Pat Henderson, (joint manager with Eddie Keher in 1979, sole manager in ‘82 and ‘83). “My view is that they’ll go for the direct replacement. Paddy Hogan, James Ryall, PJ Delaney, they’re all capable of playing centre-back, a straight swap without any shifting around of players, and all are very, very good hurlers.”