Cats dealt late blow with Reid ruled out of decider against Clare

The championship’s leading scorer was named to start at full-forward in Saturday night's NHL decider but misses out with a suspected hamstring issue

GLUM FACED: TJ Reid of Kilkenny before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final match between Clare and Kilkenny at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Kilkenny star TJ Reid is out of this evening’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final with a suspected hamstring injury.

The championship’s leading scorer was named to start at full-forward against Clare in Thurles. However, he has been replaced by Billy Drennan.

Reid was man of the match in the Division 1 semi-final win over Limerick in Cork 14 days ago.

The 35-year-old made his seasonal return for The Cats in their Division 1A defeat to Clare in Ennis in early March.

Reid was involved in the puckaround in FBD Semple Stadium but is not being risked ahead of the start of the Leinster senior hurling championship later this month. Kilkenny open their campaign against Antrim in UPMC Nowlan Park on April 21.