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.