Hurling Team News: Kilkenny name strong side for Waterford opener

Brian Cody has selected 12 of the Kilkenny team which began last year’s All-Ireland hurling final against Galway for tomorrow’s Allianz HL Division 1A opener against Waterford in Walsh Park.

The manager’s son Diarmuid, Jonjo Farrell and Mark Kelly are the three players to come into the side, at left half-back and in the two corner-forward slots respectively. The three absentees are Michael Fennelly – allowing Cillian Buckley to move to midfield – cruciate victim Ger Aylward and Eoin Larkin, who is on Army duty.

The Waterford team selected shows just one alteration from their All-Ireland semi-final loss to the Cats, with Patrick Curran replacing Tadhg de Búrca.

Christopher Joyce makes his first appearance for Cork since last March as he has been chosen at full-back for the trip to Pearse Stadium to face Galway tomorrow.

Joyce’s inclusion is one of five changes to Rebels’ side from the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final defeat to the same opposition last July.

He replaces the retired Brian Murphy, while William Egan – who missed all of last year – is in the half-back line instead of Mark Ellis, who is out injured. Lorcán McLoughlin, Paudie O’Sullivan and Alan Cadogan are the other inclusions. New Galway manager Micheál Donoghue has made eight changes from the All-Ireland final, with Cathal Mannion, Joe Canning and Conor Whelan the only attacking survivors.

Goalkeeper James Skehill and Niall Burke, both of whom played in the 2012 final, are recalled.

CORK (HL v Galway):

A Nash (Kanturk); S O’Neill (Bishopstown), C Joyce (Na Piarsaigh), S McDonnell (Glen Rovers); A Walsh (Kanturk), W Egan (Kilbrin), D Cahalane (St Finbarr’s); C Murphy (Mallow), L McLoughlin (Kanturk); B Cooper (Youghal). P O’Sullivan (Cloyne), P Cronin (Bishopstown); A Cadogan (Douglas), S Harnedy (St Ita’s), P Horgan (Glen Rovers).

Subs:

P Collins (Ballinhaassig), S Murphy (Blackrock), Daniel Kearney (Sarsfields), B Lawton (Castlemartyr), C McCarthy (Sarsfields), C Cormack (Blackrock), S Moylan (Douglas), L O’Farrell (Midleton), C Lehane (Midleton), W Leahy (Aghada), P Haughney (Midleton).

GALWAY (HL v Cork):

J Skehill (Cappataggle); J Coen (Loughrea), D Burke (Turloughmore), P Huban (Loughrea); P Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), G Lally (Gort), A Harte (Gort); A Tuohy (Beagh), D Burke (St Thomas); P Brehony (Tynagh-Abbey/Duniry), C Mannion (Ahascragh), N Burke (Oranmore-Maree); C Whelan (Kinvara), J Canning (Portumna), D Glennon (Mullagh).

KILKENNY (HL v Waterford):

E Murphy (Glenmore); P Murphy (Danesfort), J Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks), S Prendergast (Clara); P Walsh (Tullaroan), K Joyce (Rower-Inistioge), D Cody (James Stephens); C Buckley (Dicksboro), C Fogarty (Erin’s Own); W Walsh (Tullogher-Rosbercon), R Hogan (Danesfort), TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks); J Farrell (Thomastown), C Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), M Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels).

WATERFORD (HL v Kilkenny):

S O’Keeffe (Ballygunner); S Fives (Tourin), B Coughlan (Ballygunner), N Connors (Passage); A Gleeson (Mount Sion), D Fives (Tourin), P Mahony (Ballygunner); J Barron (Fourmilewater), M Shanahan (Lismore); K Moran (De La Salle), S Bennett (Ballysaggart), M Walsh (Stradbally); P Curran (Dungarvan), J Dillon (De La Salle), C Dunford (Colligan).

DUBLIN (HL v Tipperary):

C Dooley (Ballyboden St Enda’s); J Boland (Na Fianna), C O’Callaghan (Cuala), O Gough (Cuala); E O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), C Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields), S Barrett (Na Fianna); N McMorrow (Ballyboden St Enda’s), J McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields); D Plunkett (St Brigid’s), E Dillon (Naomh Fionnbarra), D Treacy (Cuala); P Ryan (Ballyboden St Enda’s), D O’Callaghan (Ballyboden St Enda’s), M Schutte (Cuala).

CLARE (HL v Offaly):

P Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); P O’Connor (Tubber), C Dillon (Crusheen), P Flanagan (Ballyea); C Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown/Kilmaley), D McInerney (Tulla), C Ryan (Cratloe); D Reidy (Éire Ó), C Galvin (Clonlara); P Duggan (Clloney-Quin), C Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), J Conlon (Clonlara); S O’Donnell (Éire Óg), D Honan (Clonlara), C McGrath (Cratloe).

LIMERICK (HL v Wexford):

N Quaid (Effin); T Condon (Knockaderry), R McCarthy (Blackrock), R English (Doon); D Morrissey (Ahane), D Byrne (Patrickswell), S Hickey (Murroe-Boher); J Fitzgibbon (Adare), P Browne (Bruff); D Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca), G O’Mahony (Kilmallock), C Lynch (Patrickswell); T Morrissey (Ahane), D Hannon (Adare), B Nash (South Liberties).

WEXFORD (HL v Limerick):

M Fanning (Glynn-Barntown); L Ryan (Rapparees), M O’Hanlon (St James), J Breen (Adamstown); A Kenny (Buffers Alley), A Shore (Parnells, Dublin), P Foley (Crossabeg/Ballymurn); L Chin (Fayhe Harriers), H Kehoe (Cloughbawn); L Óg McGovern (St Anne’s), A Nolan (HWH Bunclody), I Byrne (Ferns St Aidan’s); C Dunbar (Ballygarrett), J Guiney (Rathnure), D Dunne (Davidstown/Courtnacuddy)