Hogan ruled out for Cats' semi

Kilkenny Senior Hurling manager Brian Cody has been dealt a major blow with the news that defender Brian Hogan will not play any part in this years GAA Leinster Senior Hurling Championship due to injury.

The O'Loughlin Gaels defender suffered a broken collarbone during the Cats' Allianz National Hurling League Division 1 final win over Tipperary at Semple Stadium last month.

The triple All-Ireland SHC winner is responding well to treatment, but despite his progress Hogan looks set to be out for at least another month.

Meanwhile, four-time All-Star Michael Kavanagh is also struggling to be fit for the Cats' Leinster semi-final because of a hamstring injury.

Kilkenny will learn their opponents in the last-four of the Leinster SHC this Sunday evening when the semi-final draw is conducted live from Croke Park on RTE television.

Galway, Wexford and Kilkenny are already in the draw, where they will be joined by the winners of the Antrim-Dublin quarter-final tie which is the opening game of a mouth-watering double bill with the Dublin-Meath SFC clash at Croke Park.