Cats delay team announcement

The Kilkenny line-up for Sunday's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Limerick will be uncertain until Friday, due to a spate of injuries.

Manager Brian Cody is facing a selection headache of the worst kind. First choice full-back Noel Hickey is definitely out with a viral infection of the heart - the 25-year-old Dunnamaggin star could be sidelined for up to a year, and has been ordered by doctors to take a complete break from hurling.

The Cats' centre back and skipper Peter Barry (groin), who trained for the first time since the Leinster final on Monday night, is a doubt for the weekend, while Jackie Tyrell (hamstring), Martin Comerford (groin) and Richie Power (shoulder) are all troubled by injuries.

Both Tyrell and Comerford are rated 50-50 to start. Nippy corner forward Power, who sustained a blow to his shoulder in the opening minutes of the Leinster Under-21 final seven days ago, is making the quickest recovery after fears of a possible broken collar bone were alleviated.

Sunday will be Kilkenny's first championship outing against the Shannonsiders since 1974. A year previously, current Limerick boss Joe McKenna lined out at left corner forward when the men in green claimed the Liam McCarthy Cup with a 1-21 to 1-14 final defeat of the Cats.