Hogan brothers named in Kilkenny side

Brothers Richie and Paddy Hogan have been drafted into the Kilkenny team for Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final against Cork at Semple Stadium (throw-in 4pm).

Wing forward Richie is set to face the Rebels after making a quicker than expected recovery from the lung and rib injuries he sustained against Galway last month.

Speaking earlier this week about the Danesfort clubman, Kilkenny boss Brian Cody said: "Richie got a bad injury against Galway, a collapsed lung and two broken ribs. It looked like it was going to be at least six weeks but he came back last Sunday after four weeks and got through a club game well.

"He is really determined, he came back strongly. He spent three days in hospital, got a drain into the lung - not a pleasant experience. The ribs were worrying because obviously that prolonged the thing but he says he's not feeling the pain - fair play to him.

"What I liked about it was he wanted to play with his club on Sunday, it wasn't a big county game or anything. I would admire him for that."

The fit-again Hogan returns in the number 10 jersey, with his sibling Paddy pairing up with Michael Fennelly in the Cats' engine room.

Cillian Buckley, who was at centre-field for the semi-final win over Clare, moves into the half-forward line. The injured Richie Power (knee) and John Mulhall, who is listed among the substitutes, are the two players to make way.

The All-Ireland champions are monitoring an injury list that now includes Power, Aidan Fogarty, Michael Rice, Henry Shefflin and Noel Hickey.

Cork beat Kilkenny 1-17 to 1-15 in the group phase of this year’s Allianz Hurling League at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, while the counties' last league final meeting in 2002 saw the Cats edge home on a 2-15 to 2-14 scoreline.

KILKENNY (AHL v Cork): David Herity; Paul Murphy, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Richie Doyle; Michael Fennelly, Paddy Hogan; Richie Hogan, TJ Reid, Cillian Buckley; Colin Fennelly, Eoin Larkin (capt), Matthew Ruth.

Subs: Eoin Murphy, Kieran Joyce, Conor Fogarty, John Tennyson, Willie Phelan, John Mulhall, Mark Bergin, Tomas Breen, Padraig Walsh, Lester Ryan.