Kilkenny lose Power for Offaly clash

Kilkenny will begin their 2007 championship campaign without the services of Richie Power as the Carrickshock clubman is currently nursing a hamstring injury.

Brian Cody's All-Ireland champions take on Offaly in Portlaoise in the Leinster SHC semi-final this Sunday, and the Kilkenny boss has confirmed that Power, who sustained his injury in training, will not be risked.

Injury also kept Power out of the Cats' Leinster SHC opener against Westmeath last June, but he bounced back to start the All-Ireland final against Cork, contributing a point in an excellent 70-minute display.

Power's place in the Kilkenny half-forward line for the Offaly game is expected to be taken by Eoin Larkin.

Eoin McCormack (shoulder) and Michael Rice (leg) are both expected to see some action against Offaly as they continue to recover well from their respective injuries.

Kilkenny are favoured to turn over the Faithfuls again this weekend, given that the Cats' last six wins over Offaly have been by an average margin of more than 14 points.

Kilkenny are hoping to win a three in-a-row of Leinster SHC titles this summer, with the 2007 final set for Croke Park on July 1. Dublin and Wexford meet each other in the other semi-final on Saturday night.