There is just one change to the line-ups for Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.
Cillian Buckley has been passed fit to return to the team after a season battling injury. He started the quarter-final against Cork but was replaced at half-time and came on against Limerick in the semi-final at the end of the first half. Richie Leahy misses out.
Buckley is named at centrefield but may switch with Conor Fogarty to drop to wing back. It is a lift for the team to be able to bring back the two-time All Star even if he is short of game time.
Tipperary make no changes, which means that Séamus Kennedy retains his place after being introduced as a late replacement for James Barry.
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody maintained his practice of making changes for All-Ireland finals. Sunday will be his 18th final - including replays - and he changed the team for 13 of them. Changes included those forced by injuries but they were largely tactical alterations.
KILKENNY: E Murphy; P Murphy, H Lawlor, J Holden; C Fogarty, P Walsh, P Deegan; C Browne, C Buckley; J Donnelly, TJ Reid (capt.), W Walsh; A Mullen, C Fennelly, R Hogan. Subs: D Brennan, C Delaney, E Morrissey, J Cleere, R Reid, R Leahy, R Reid, B Ryan, L Blanchfield, G Aylward, A Murphy.
TIPPERARY: B Hogan; C Barrett, B Heffernan, R Maher; B Maher, P Maher, S Kennedy; N McGrath, M Breen; D McCormack, J O'Dwyer, N O'Meara; J Forde, S Callanan (capt.), J McGrath. Subs: P Maher, J Barry, G Browne, R Byrne, J Cahill, W Connors, A Flynn, M Kehoe, D Maher, J Morris, S O'Brien.
