Ryan: Fight for places is crazy

Competition for starting places on the Kilkenny team has reached "crazy levels", according to captain Lester Ryan.

Manager Brian Cody has employed 25 players during the county’s four championship matches, one-third of the team axed from the starting line-up for the replayed Leinster semi-final against Galway.

The Kilkenny captain started only one game this summer, the 26-point hammering of Offaly, his combined involvement in the remaining fixtures amounting to 13 minutes.