Hickey is drafted in for Cody’s Cats

Noel Hickey replaces injured JJ Delaney in the only Kilkenny change from the team that beat Dublin for tomorrow’s Leinster final against Galway.

Delaney had played down the extent of his hand injury, which saw him substituted early in the second half of the semi-final.

However, he has been deemed not fit to play, while Michael Fennelly and Michael Rice continue to be sidelined.

Captain Eoin Larkin has overcome his ankle injury, picked up in training, and is expected to start.

Like they did for their victory over Offaly, Galway have named David Collins at right corner-back in their team to face the Cats.

Collins didn’t start that game because of injury although there is confidence he will line out in Croke Park.

He is the only change in the Galway team with Conor Cooney and Damien Hayes swapping corners in the forwards.

Clare make four changes from the team that lost to Waterford for this evening’s phase two qualifier against Dublin in Cusack Park.

Darach Honan returns to the starting line-up after coming on as a substitute in Thurles.

KILKENNY (SH v Galway): D Herity; P Murphy, N Hickey, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, R Doyle; C Buckley, P Hogan; H Shefflin, TJ Reid, E Larkin; M Fennelly, R Power, R Hogan.

GALWAY (SH v Kilkenny): J Skehill; D Collins, K Hynes, F Moore; N Donoghue, T Regan, J Coen; I Tannian, A Smith; D Burke, N Burke, C Donnellan; C Cooney, J Canning, D Hayes.

CLARE (SH v Dublin): P Kelly; D O’Donovan, C Dillon, C Cooney; B Bugler, P Donnellan, N O’Connell; S Morey; S Collins; F Lynch, J Clancy, T Kelly; J Conlon, C McGrath, D Honan