Injuries may prove too much for Cats against rejuvenated Cork

What forward line can afford to be without Henry Shefflin, a fully-fit and on-fire Richie Power, Michael Rice and Aidan Fogarty?

Take all of those together and what forward line can afford to be without four such outstanding attackers?

I bow to no-one in my admiration for this Kilkenny team with the hurling ethic and attitude that has been built on and reinforced so well during the Cody dynasty. They’ll take to the field in Thurles tomorrow and they’ll expect to win. Driven on by that magnificent defence and midfield, they’ll try to make light of the loss of all those marquee forwards and do their damnedest to impose their will on Cork.