No TJ Reid as Kilkenny show hand for championship opener

The Cats take on old rivals Galway this weekend. 

Kilkenny senior hurling manager Derek Lyng. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Kilkenny great TJ Reid misses Saturday’s Leinster SHC Round 1 game against Galway in UPMC Nowlan Park with a calf injury.

Speculation had been rife during the week that the 2015 hurler of the year was a doubt for the game and so it has transpired.

However, there is good news in Ballyhale Shamrocks forwards Adrian Mullen and Eoin Cody returning to the team even though Tommy Walsh and David Blanchfield, regular starters last year, are among the substitutes.

From the last championship team that lost to Clare last July, there are 11 survivors. Former Kerry hurler Fionan Mackessy is named at wing-forward where is set to make his SHC debut for The Cats.

Meanwhile, Galway make six changes to the side that lost their last Division 1A game to Cork last month for the trip to Kilkenny. John Fleming is set to make his SHC debut while David and Daithí Burke are included among the substitutes.

KILKENNY (SHC v Galway): E. Murphy; M. Butler, H. Lawlor, S. Murphy; M. Carey, R. Reid, P. Deegan; C. Kenny, J. Molloy; A. Mullen, J. Donnelly (c), F. Mackessy; B. Ryan, M. Keoghan, E. Cody. Subs: D. Mason, T. Walsh, P. Moylan, D. Blanchfield, K. Doyle, P. McDonald, S. Donnelly, H. Shine, L. Hogan, B. Drennan, E. Lyng.

GALWAY (SHC v Kilkenny): D. Fahy; J. Grealish, F. Burke, D. Morrissey; P. Mannion, G. Lee, T.J. Brennan; C. Fahy, T. Monaghan; J. Fleming, C. Mannion, T. Killeen; C. Whelan (c), B. Concannon, D. McLaughlin. Verdict: E. Murphy, S. Cooney, J. Ryan, R. Glennon, S. Linnane, D. O'Shea, R. Burke, J. Cooney, C. Cooney, David Burke, Daithí Burke.