Kilkenny unchanged for Under-21 clash with Antrim

Kilkenny will field an unchanged team for tomorrow's Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship semi-final against Antrim at Pairc Tailteann (throw-in 4.30pm).

Manager Michael Walsh has decided to keep faith with the fifteen players who started the 2-20 to 1-19 Leinster final win over Dublin last month.

The Cats go into this Navan encounter with eight survivors from last year's All-Ireland U-21 winning side.

Senior star Richie Hogan heads that list, along with goalkeeper Colin McGrath, defenders Paul Murphy and Lester Ryan and forwards Colin Fennelly, Mark Bergin, John Mulhall and JJ Farrell.

Kilkenny's 2008 captain James Dowling will have to make do with a place on the bench. Andy Kearns and Kieran Mooney have also recovered from injury to bolster the champions' options.

"This game is a huge one for us - the biggest we've had in the Championship," Walsh told the Kilkenny People.

"Whatever has gone on before is in the past. Our players put in a massive performance in the Leinster final, but if we don't produce the same level of effort against Antrim we'll find out, like other teams have in this Championship, that if you're not prepared for battle there's only one way you'll go.

"We have a strong panel of players who will be totally focused on the job at hand.

"I think they'll know, especially from the scare they got against Offaly, that we have to be ready for this game.

"At this level there is no such thing as an easy game or taking your eye off the ball - all you can do is concentrate on the task at hand.

"For us that aim is to play well, and give it everything we have to try and beat Antrim."

KILKENNY (U-21HC v Antrim) - C McGrath; P Murphy, P Nolan, C Fogarty; Lester Ryan, D Langton, M Walsh; M Kelly, Liam Ryan; C Fennelly, M Bergin, J Mulhall; R Hogan, JJ Farrell, J Nolan.