Advertisement
Cillian Buckley: Battling injury. INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Young Cat

Injury doubt Buckley selected for Kilkenny U21 duty

The Cats have included four senior panellists in their U21 team for tomorrow night’s Leinster showdown with Wexford.

CILLIAN BUCKLEY HAS been named at left half-forward on the Kilkenny side that faces Wexford in tomorrow night’s Bord Gáis Energy Leinster U21HC semi-final, despite struggling with a hamstring injury recently that threatens his participation for Brian Cody’s senior side in their provincial clash with Dublin next Saturday.

Buckley has been hugely impressive to date this year in his debut season at senior level and was part of the Kilkenny side that defeated Cork in last month’s Allianz HL Division 1 final in Semple Stadium.

Richie Doyle also lined out for the senior team in that clash and will start at centre-back in Nowlan Park tomorrow night while fellow senior panellists Willie Phelan and Padraig Walsh are selected at full-back and centre-forward respectively.

Kilkenny boss Richie Mulrooney is making his debut in U21 management following a successful stint at minor level when he guided Kilkenny to All-Ireland minor crowns in 2008 and 2010. Twelve players, who featured in the starting fifteen for those victories, have been named in the line-up for tomrrow’s battle with Wexford.

KILKENNY U21H: D Walsh (Thomastown); J Corcoran (John Lockes), W Phelan (Dunamaggin), J Lyng (Rower/Inistioge); L Harney (Kilmacow), R Doyle (Barrow Rangers), B Kennedy (St Lachtain’s); G Brennan (St Patrick’s, Ballyragget), O Walsh (Dicksboro); C Kenny (Barrow Rangers), P Walsh (Tullaroan), C Buckley (Dicksboro); G Aylward (Glenmore), W Walsh (Tullogher/Rosbercon); K Kelly (St Patrick’s, Ballyragget)

‘That’s the journey I’m on now’ — Donal Óg Cusack relishing Cork coaching role