Kilkenny team named to face Wexford in Walsh Cup

Tom Phelan makes his first start of the year for Kilkenny

placeholder image — Tom Phelan makes his first start of the year for Kilkenny

The semi-final clash takes place this afternoon at 2pm

Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng has named his team to face Wexford in today's Dioralyte Walsh cup semi-final in John Locke Park, Callan.

The starting 15 continues to have an experimental look to it as new faces look to impress while there are also first starts of the year for the more experienced Tom Phelan and captain on the day Conor Delaney.

Most noteworthy of all however is the sight of the Thomastown quartet of Zach Bay Hammond, Peter McDonald, Stephen Donnelly and Luke Connellan all named on the bench and it'll be interestig to see if any of the four get gametime just one week on from their All-Ireland Intermediate title success.

Kilkenny come into the game on the back of a convincing victory over Carlow and after Wexford did likewise last weekend, it should be set up for a competitive affair.

Kilkenny team to face Wexford- Darren Brennan (St Lachtains); Niall Rowe (Dicksboro), Conor Delaney (Erins Own); Shane Murphy (Glenmore); Padraic Moylan (Dicksboro), Darragh Corcoran (Shamrocks), David Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge); Kevin Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Killian Doyle (Emeralds); Timmy Clifford (Dicksboro), Martin Keoghan (Tullaroan), Paul Cody (Clara); Eoin Guilfoyle (James Stephens), Liam Blanchfield (Bennettsbridge), Tom Phelan (Conahy).

Subs- Eoin Murphy (Glenmore), Joe Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin), Paddy Langton (Young Irelands), Billy Reid (Glenmore), Zach Bay Hammond (Thomastown), Peter McDonald (Thomastown), Denis Walsh (Dunnamaggin), Billy Ryan (Graigue-Ballycallan), Andy Hickey (Dunnamaggin), Stephen Donnelly (Thomastown), Luke Connellan (Thomastown).