KILKENNY HAVE MADE five changes from the team that lost by the narrowest of margins to Clare last weekend as they get set to take on Tipperary in Nowlan Park Sunday.
Willie Phelan replaces the injured Conor Fogarty while Kieran Joyce returns to the fold following The Rower Inistioge’s All Ireland Intermediate club championship campaign. He replaces Michael Walsh.
Brian Hogan also returns allowing Lester Ryan return to midfield where he replaces Cillian Buckley. Tommy Walsh comes in for Paul Murphy while, up front, T J Reid starts at corner forward, replacing Eoin Larkin.
Meanwhile, though Kilkenny are confident the old stand side of ground will be open for the game, the County Board have said they won’t be in a position to confirm its availability until Saturday morning.
KILKENNY TEAM TO PLAY TIPPERARY: David Herity (Dunnamaggin); Willie Phelan (Dunnamggin), Kieran Joyce (Rower Inistioge), Brian Kennedy (St. Lachtains); Joey Holden (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Brian Hogan (O’Loughlin Gaels), Tommy Walsh (Tullaroan); Lester Ryan (Clara), Padraig Walsh (Tullaroan); Walter Walsh (Tullogher Rosbercon), Colin Fennelly (Ballyhale Shamrocks), Henry Shefflin (Ballyhale Shamrocks); Jonjoe Farrell (Thomastown), Mark Kelly (O’Loughlin Gaels), T.J. Reid (Ballyhale Shamrocks).
Subs: Eoin Murphy (Glenmore), Paul Murphy (Danesfort), Michael Walsh (Young Irelands), Jackie Tyrrell (James Stephens), Shane Prendergast (Clara), David Langton (Clara), Liam Ryan (Clara), Richie Hogan (Danesfort), Cillian Buckley (Dicksboro), Joe Brennan (St. Patrick’s), Eoin Larkin (James Stephens).
