Noel Hickey: ‘Mick Fennelly’s a massive man to try and replace’

Noel Hickey admits Michael Fennelly’s loss will be considerable going into an All-Ireland final with Tipperary, a team he impressed against in recent years.

Hickey recollects just how forceful the Kilkenny midfielder, 31, was in guiding the Cats to a final replay win over their neighbours in 2014. In the 2011 decider, Fennelly’s second-half goal was pivotal.

Having suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in Saturday’s semi-final win over Waterford, Fennelly has the utmost sympathy of his former team-mate Hickey who believes he will be difficult to replace.

“It’s devastating for himself and would be any time of the year but especially before the All-Ireland final. He has suffered enough injuries with his back and that over the last few years and from a Kilkenny view it’s hard to take.

“He’s a massive loss especially with Tipp in the final. There are going to be big hits and massive physicality and Mick thrives on all of that because he is so powerful. In the second half of the replay a couple of years ago, he took over and got things going, breaking tackles and bringing the ball forward.”

The prospect of Fennelly tussling with Michael Breen had whetted a lot of supporters’ appetite, says Hickey.

“Even before Kilkenny and Tipp won the semi-finals, people were talking about it and saying ‘by God it would be some match-up’.”

Although there is speculation the game in Thurles may turn out to be Fennelly’s last game in the black and amber, Hickey believes the Ballyhale Shamrocks man can still return.

“It’s fierce tough on him and it will be a long lay-off. He’s already been suffering with his back and he hasn’t been training as much as the rest of the lads so it’s up to Mick to see how much he wants to get back involved. It will be hard but not impossible. He might decide to have the surgery and do the rehab until Christmas and assess his plans after that.”

Attempting to second guess what Brian Cody may now do in the absence of Fennelly is easier said than done, remarks Hickey. However, he fancies Kieran Joyce, who was unused against Waterford in Thurles, may now be introduced with Conor Fogarty resuming his previous midfield role.

“It’s another man’s chance now. If Brian sticks with the three changes he made the last day, you might see Kieran Joyce brought back into the team at centre-back and Conor Fogarty going into midfield again. You never know what Brian would come up — Lester Ryan has a chance too — but Kieran Joyce played so well in the replay against Tipperary two years ago.”

In 2006, Hickey was a part of a team that managed to overcome the loss of JJ Delaney to a cruciate injury in the build-up to beating Cork.

“Brian will always emphasise the importance of the team. It’s just going to be a case of pushing ahead for the final and making the most of it. Mick’s a massive man to try and replace. He’s been a real enforcer when he’s been on his game.”