Kilkenny v Waterford All-Ireland SHC Semi-Final Match Pick...

Kilkenny take on Waterford in the first of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship Semi-Finals in Croke Park on August 9 @ 4:00 PM.

Brian Hogan and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick return to the Kilkenny team ahead of the clash against Waterford.

However, there is no starting place for the fit-again Noel Hickey, with JJ Delaney continuing at full back.

Hogan will be making his first championship appearance of the year after missing the Leinster campaign due to the broken collarbone he sustained in the early stages of the NHL final against Tipperary on May 3 last. The O'Loughlin Gaels' clubman's return to centre back sees John Tennyson moving to left half back in place of John Dalton.

Fitzpatrick, who came on as a sub against Dublin in the Leinster final after missing most of the season because of club commitments and illness, starts at midfield with Derek Lyng surprisingly dropping to the bench.

There are no changes in attack which means that the Cats will parade 13 of the team that demolished Waterford in last year's All-Ireland final, with Tennyson for Hickey and Michael Rice for Lyng the only alterations.

Kilkenny Team:
PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, JJ Delaney, J Tyrrell; T Walsh, B Hogan, J Tennyson; J Fitzpatrick, M Rice; H Shefflin, M Comerford, E Larkin; E Brennan, R Power, A Fogarty.

Dan Shanahan has failed to break into the Waterford team for this semi-final, despite his dramatic impact in the closing stages of the quarter-final win over Galway.

The former Hurler of the Year has to be content with a place on the subs bench again along with his younger brother Maurice, who was also introduced against the Tribesmen. However, Shane Walsh - who also came off the bench against Galway and scored a crucial late goal - is included at right half forward in a side that shows two changes from the quarter-final.

Eoin McGrath is also introduced to the attack at left corner forward with Jamie Nagle and Shane Casey the players to lose out. In Nagle's absence, Kevin Moran switches from wing forward to midfield to form a new partnership with Shane O'Sullivan.

Ken McGrath and Gary Hurney are both named among the substitutes and it's expected that the former will see action at some stage as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

Waterford:
C Hennessy; E Murphy, A Kearney, N Connors; T Browne, M Walsh, D Prendergast; S O'Sullivan, K Moran; S Prendergast, S Molumphy, S Walsh; J Mullane, E Kelly, E McGrath.

Paddy Power Match Winning Odds:
Kilkenny 1/8
Draw 15/1
Waterford 6/1

Handicap Betting Hide
Kilkenny (-9.0) 11/10
Handicap Draw (-9.0) 11/1
Waterford (+9.0) 5/6

Winner: Kilkenny

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