The future inter-county career of Kilkenny's Willie O'Connor was put in jeopardy yesterday when he was left out of the county's 30man championship panel. O'Connor, who captained Kilkenny to last year's All-Ireland win, missed the entire league campaign and hasn't played competitively for the county since the All-Ireland final last September.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is known to have given O'Connor plenty of time to commit to a future with the team but it is now almost certain that he will play no role in their championship campaign this summer.

Although he has not announced his retirement from the game, it is most unlikely that he will return in time for Kilkenny's championship opener in the Leinster semi-final against Offaly on June 10th.

O'Connor lined out for his club, Glenmore in last Saturday's Kilkenny senior league. He was reportedly suffering from a hamstring injury but completed the game, which Glenmore lost 1-13 to 0-13 to O'Loughlin Gaels. But he made no comment about his intentions afterwards and even though the management insist that there is still a place in the squad for him if he so desires, his future is increasingly uncertain.

O'Connor, who made his championship debut in 1992, won his fourth All Star last year and his third All-Ireland winner's medal.

Among the newcomers on the Kilkenny panel is 19-year-old JJ Delaney from Johnstown, who has had some sparkling showings for Waterford Institute of Technology. Other new championship faces will be Derek Lyng (Emeralds), Dermot Grogan (James Stephen's), John O'Neill (John Locke's) and Tom Drennan (Young Ireland).

Omitted were Aidan Cummins and Paddy Mullally, who played in the League semi-final against Clare, along with JP Corcoran and John Barron.