KILKENNY MEAN BUSINESS.
After flirting with relegation last season, Brian Cody is taking no chances this year as he has named a strong starting XV as his side get their 2016 Allianz National Hurling League campaign under way against Waterford at Walsh Park on Sunday.
Diarmuid Cody, Jonjo Farrell and Mark Kelly are the only players who didn’t start last September’s Liam MacCarthy victory over Galway.
Cody will wear the number seven shirt which allows Cillian Buckley into midfield where he replaces Michael Fennelly.
Up front Farrell takes the place of the injured Ger Aylward while Kelly starts in place of Eoin Larkin who is on UN duty.
For Waterford, they can name 14 of the side that narrowly lost to the Cats in the All-Ireland semi-final with Tadhg De Burca replaced by Patrick Curran.
Throw-in Sunday is at 2pm.
Kilkenny XV
1 Eoin Murphy (Glenmore)
2 Paul Murphy (Danesfort)
3 Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
4 Shane Prendergast (Clara) – Capt
5 Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan)
6 Kieran Joyce Rower (Inistioge)
7 Diarmuid Cody (James Stephens)
8 Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro)
9 Conor Fogarty (Erins Own)
10 Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon)
11 Richie Hogan (Danesfort)
12 TJ Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
13 Jonjo Farrell (Thomastown)
14 Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
15 Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels)
Subs:
16 Richie Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks)
17 Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens)
18 Brian Kennedy (St Lachtains)
19 Conor O Shea (Clara)
20 Robert Lennon (Bennettsbridge)
21 Lester Ryan (Clara)
22 Michael Malone (Mullinavat)
23 Conor Martin (Emeralds)
24 James Maher (St Lachtains)
25 Kevin Kelly (St Patricks)
26 John Power (Carrickshock)
Waterford XV
1. Stephen O’Keeffe (Ballygunner)
2. Shane Fives (Tourin)
3. Barry Coughlan (Ballygunner)
4. Noel Connors (Passage)
5. Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
6. Darragh Fives (Tourin)
7. Philip Mahony (Ballygunner)
8. Jamie Barron (Fourmilewater)
21. Maurice Shanahan (Lismore)
10. Kevin Moran (De La Salle) – Captain
11. Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
12. Michael Walsh (Stradbally)
13. Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
14. Jake Dillon (De La Salle)
15. Colin Dunford (Colligan)
