Doyle and Joyce get starting nod for Cats

KILKENNY senior panellists Richie Doyle and Kieran Joyce have both been named in the starting 15 for the county’s intermediate team that do battle with Wexford in the Leinster IHC final in Nowlan Park tonight at 7.30pm.

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.