Hickey in at full-back for Cats

There is one enforced change to the Kilkenny team to face Galway in tomorrow's Leinster SHC final, with Noel Hickey replacing the injured JJ Delaney in defence.

Dunnamaggin clubman Hickey has been handed the full-back role as Delaney is still nursing a fractured finger from the semi-final win over Dublin.

Eoin Larkin has shaken off an ankle injury to captain the Cats from wing forward, while corner back Paul Murphy and corner forward Colin Fennelly are also fit to start.

Michael Rice has been included on the bench despite doubts over his knee inury, while the match has come too soon for 2011 Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly who is working his way back from a broken bone in his foot.

Kilkenny boast an incredible record at provincial level. Should Brian Cody's men triumph this weekend at Croke Park, it would be their eighth Leinster title in a row.

The last time they tasted defeat in the Leinster Championship was back in 2004 when Wexford struck late to win a Leinster semi-final tie.

KILKENNY (SHC v Galway): David Herity; Paul Murphy, Noel Hickey, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Richie Doyle; Cillian Buckley, Paddy Hogan; Henry Shefflin, TJ Reid, Eoin Larkin (capt); Colin Fennelly, Richie Power, Richie Hogan.

Subs: Eoin Murphy, Kieran Joyce, Conor Fogarty, John Tennyson, Matthew Ruth, Aidan Fogarty, Michael Rice, Lester Ryan, Willie Phelan, Mark Bergin,