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.