Despite injury concerns earlier in the week, former Hurler of the Year Michael Fennelly is named in the Kilkenny team to play Offaly in Nowlan Park in tomorrow's Leinster hurling quarter-final, which will be the first GAA match broadcast live by Sky Sports.
Fennelly injured his leg in a recent challenge match against Clare but has evidently recovered in time for tomorrow.
Misses out
Henry Shefflin hasn’t, however, been able to shake off his foot injury and misses out. The team is notable as the first championship selection in which Tommy Walsh hasn’t started in 12 years. He is named on the bench.
Otherwise, manager Brian Cody makes three changes to the team that started in the recent national hurling league final defeat of Tipperary after extra time.
Lester Ryan comes in at centrefield, with Pádraig Walsh switching back to the half-back line where he replaces Joey Holden.
Richie Hogan will partner Ryan at centrefield, with Michael Fennelly starting at centre forward.
Walter Walsh and Eoin Larkin replace the injured Richie Power and Shefflin.
Offaly manager Brian Whelahan, meanwhile, names four debutants on his first championship side: Niall Wynne at corner back, Barry Harding at wing back, Peter Geraghty at wing forward and Kevin Connolly in the corner.
David Kenny, who captained the side last year, is out with long-term injury, as is Colin Egan, and Seán Cleary is suspended.
All three started last year’s 4-9 to 0-26 defeat by tomorrow’s opponents and all told, there are eight changes from that match.
A late illness scare surrounding goalkeeper James Dempsey was dispelled when he was reported to have taken part in training last night.
Cork hurlers make one change for the replay against Waterford in Thurles on Sunday. Bill Cooper, who impressed as a substitute in the drawn match and scored his team's goal, comes in for Cian McCarthy at centre forward.
One change
Longford's team to face Wexford for the fourth time since 2012 shows one change from the line-up that defeated Offaly.
Barry Gilleran, who was named the last day but didn’t start although he did make an appearance as a replacement, is again named at full back, with Barry Farrell who replaced him the last day reverting to the bench.
Wexford manager Aidan O’Brien names Michael O’Regan, who played for the county hurlers in last year’s championship, in the half forwards, while Shane Roche, who scored 2-4 in the county’s last semi-final win, against Carlow three years ago, is named in goal
Passing of Martin Treacy
Kilkenny hurling was yesterday mourning the passing of Martin Treacy, who played at corner back in the 1963 All-Ireland final victory over Waterford.
He was a member of the all-conquering Bennettsbridge teams of the 1950s and ‘60s, winning nine county medals but was also well known for his continuing commitment to Kilkenny, which he served at county board level long after his career ended.
He is survived by his wife Teresa, sons Martin, John and Desmond and daughter Patricia.
KILKENNY (SHC v Offaly): Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, J J Delaney, Brian Kennedy; Pádraig Walsh, Jackie Tyrrell, Cillian Buckley; Lester Ryan, Richie Hogan; Walter Walsh, Michael Fennelly, TJ Reid; Colin Fennelly, Mark Kelly, Eoin Larkin.
CORK (SHC v Waterford): Anthony Nash; Shane O'Neill, Damien Cahalane, Stephen McDonnell; Christopher Joyce, Mark Ellis, Lorcan McLoughlin; Daniel Kearney, Aidan Walsh; Conor Lehane, Bill Cooper, Patrick Cronin; Alan Cadogan, Séamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan. Subs: Darren McCarthy, Conor O'Sullivan, Killian Burke, Willian Egan, Eoin Cadogan, Brian Lawton, Jamie Coughlan, Stephen Moylan, Cian McCarthy, Rob O'Shea, Paudie O'Sullivan
MAYO (SFC v Roscommon): Robbie Hennelly; Tom Cunniffe, Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Donal Vaughan; Aidan O'Shea, Séamus O'Shea; Diarmuid O'Connor, Conor O'Shea, Jason Doherty; Kevin McLoughlin, Alan Freeman, Cillian O'Connor.
CAVAN (SFC v Armagh): Conor Gilsenan; Jason McLoughlin, Rory Dunne, Feargal Flanagan; James McEnroe, Alan Clarke (capt), Damien O'Reilly; David Givney, Gearóid McKiernan; Cian Mackey, Niall McDermott, Martin Reilly; Eugene Keating, Martin Dunne, Jack Brady.
WEXFORD(SFC v Longford): Shane Roche; Robert Tierney, Graeme Molloy, Conor Carty; Michael Furlong, Brian Malone, Adrian Flynn; Daithí Waters, Paddy Byrne; Michael O'Regan, PJ Banville, James Holmes; Ciarán Lyng, Ben Brosnan, Kevin O'Grady
LONGFORD: Damien Sheridan; Dermot Brady, Barry Gilleran, Fergal Battrim; Colm P Smith, Enda Williams, Shane Mulligan; John Keegan, Shane Doyle; Michael Quinn, Francis McGee, Paul Barden; Mark Hughes, Brian Kavanagh, Seán McCormack. LOUTH (SFC v Kildare): Neil Gallagher; Pádraig Rath, Dessie Finnegan, John O'Brien; Patrick Reilly, Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid; Paddy Keenan, Brian Donnelly; Andy McDonnell, Brian White, Derek Maguire; Declan Byrne, Conor Grimes, Mick Fanning.
OFFALY (SHC v Kilkenny): J Dempsey; N Wynne, R Hanniffy, J Rigney; B Harding, D Morkan, C Parlon; C Mahon, S Ryan; J Bergin (capt), D Currams, P Geraghty; K Connolly, S Dooley, B Carroll.
