Cody names Kilkenny final team
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody has sensationally omitted last year's All-Ireland-winning captain James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick from his team for Sunday's SHC final showdown with Tipperary at Croke Park.
Cody has made two personnel changes to the side which beat Waterford last time out at the semi-final stage.
Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman Fitzpatrick partnered Michael Rice in midfield for that game, but this time Derek Lyng has been preferred for centre-field duty.
Having bagged 14 points in Kilkenny's All-Ireland Under 21 semi-final demolition of Antrim recently, Richie Hogan has earned a starting berth for the senior decider.
Hogan comes in for the Cats at right half-forward, with Henry Shefflin moving to centre-forward, Martin Comerford is the player to lose out.
Meanwhile, the Kilkenny full-forward line remains the same as the one which started against Waterford, with Eddie Brennan, Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty lining out together.
Cody has also placed his trust in the Cats defence that faced the Deise and has resisted the urge to recall Noel Hickey.
The talented full-back has battled his way back to full fitness and could yet feature off the bench this weekend.
KILKENNY (SHC v Tipperary): PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson; D Lyng, M Rice; R Hogan, H Shefflin, E Larkin; E Brennan, R Power, A Fogarty.
