Doyle and Joyce get starting nod for Cats
The pair were on the bench last Sunday as Kilkenny claimed senior honours against Dublin in Croke Park and for tonight’s game Doyle is named at left half-back and this year’s UL Fitzgibbon Cup winning captain Joyce will play at midfield. Doyle is one of five members of the Kilkenny U21 team that were defeated by Wexford in last month’s quarter-final to start tonight with Ian Duggan and Michael Walsh picked in the full-back line, while Eoin Murphy and Walter Walsh both fill the wing-forward positions.
Goalkeeper Richie O’Neill and centre-forward Willie O’Dwyer have both had previous experience with Brian Cody’s senior setup. Opponents Wexford have not named a side yet but it is understood that Colm Bonnar, who stepped down as senior boss at the weekend, will continue to fill his role as intermediate manager for the game.
Meanwhile former senior attacking star Jason O’Reilly is part of the Cavan squad that travel to Newbridge for tonight’s Leinster JFC final against Kildare at 7.30pm. The Breffni County were defeated at the final stage last season by Louth in Drogheda. Cavan have not yet named their starting 15 for tomorrow’s game but will include three members of the county U21 squad that reached the All-Ireland final in May. Alan O’Mara was the goalkeeper in that game, Jack Brady played at corner-forward and Conor McClarey was introduced as a substitute in that decider. Terry Hyland, son of the county senior manager, is also on panel as well as former senior player Finbarr O’Reilly.
KILKENNY (IH v Wexford): R O’Neill (Kilmacow); I Duggan (Mullinavat), M Walsh (Young Irelands), S Phelan (Lisdowney); PJ Rowe (Mooncoin), S Byrne (Young Irelands), R Doyle (Barrow Rangers); C Conway (Mullinavat), K Joyce (Rower-Inistioge); E Murphy (Glenmore), W O’Dwyer (Mullinavat), W Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon); A Stapleton (Dicksboro), JJ Farrell (Thomastown), G Shelly (John Lockes). Subs: P Morrissey (John Lockes), K Cuddihy (Dicksboro), L Harney (Kilmacow), M Moloney (Blacks & Whites), M Grace (Mooncoin), S Burke (John Lockes), S Kenny (St Patrick’s), E Hickey (Lisdowney).
CAVAN (JF panel v Kildare): A O’Mara, T Hyland, S McCormack, C O’Reilly, T Reilly, R Maloney-Derham, D Graham, S Gaffney, E King, S Jordan, D Meehan, K Fannin, C McClarey, J O’Reilly, J Brady, J McLoughlin, C Conroy, S Tormey, T Wakely, R McCormack, F O’Reilly, P McCabe, C Smith, J Hayes.
