All-Ireland SHC Final/Kilkenny team:Kilkenny have named Michael Kavanagh in the side to face Cork in this year's All-Ireland hurling final next Sunday at Croke Park. Kavanagh is still recovering from a hamstring injury, which has prevented him from taking a full part in training over the past two weeks.
The player had a light run-out at training last night but may need a fitness test closer to the weekend.
The team shows no change in personnel from the fifteen that defeated Munster champions Waterford in last month's semi-final although there are some positional switches in the forwards as named, compared to how the attack started in that match.
Henry Shefflin moves to the right wing from the left corner with Eddie Brennan coming in from that wing to the left corner. Right corner forward James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick, centre forward John Hoyne and full forward Martin Comerford retain the same positions.
But further changes could well take place on the day, as the champions frequently shuffle the forwards before the throw-in.
Manager Brian Cody has had other injury concerns in the past fortnight. Last week DJ Carey had to have a scan on a suspected hamstring injury, which was found to be less serious than feared and in recent days centre back Peter Barry has had to take an antibiotic after a hand injury, requiring six stitches, went septic. But he has come through and is named at centre back.
Kilkenny show only two - as opposed to Cork's four - changes from last year's All-Ireland final. Dropping out are right wing back Seán Dowling and midfielder Paddy Mullally - both of whom are named on the replacements' bench - with Ken Coogan and Cha Fitzpatrick coming in. The latter's arrival in the forwards is an indirect replacement for Dowling with Tommy Walsh now playing in the backs.
There had been speculation that Walsh would be named in the forwards, where he scored three points from play in the first quarter of last year's final. But that has been laid to rest.
Coogan and Fitzpatrick will be starting their first senior All-Ireland final although Coogan was a member of last year's panel.
This will be DJ Carey's ninth All-Ireland final and he is aiming for a sixth medal amid speculation that the match will be his last appearance for Kilkenny.
Meanwhile, both Kilkenny and Galway have finalised their starting line-ups for Sunday's All-Ireland minor final. Like their senior counterparts, Kilkenny are seeking a third successive all-Ireland title, achieved on only one previous occasion from 1960-62.
Sunday's game is a repeat of last year's final when the overall power of Kilkenny proved too much for Galway.
As expected Kilkenny have gone with the same team that defeated Tipperary in the semi-final, showing two positional switches in the attack - with Maurice Nolan now operating at centre forward, Eddie O'Donoghue at full forward and Nicholas Kenny at wing forward.
Galway were most impressive in their semi-final win over Cork but have made one change from that line-up with Daniel Whyte from Tommie Larkins coming in at wing forward for Kevin Coen. There is also one positional switch in the full-forward line between Karl Wade and Joe Canning.
KILKENNY (MH v Galway): L Tierney; J Maher, K Joyce, E Walsh; N Prendergast, R Maher, S Prendergast; P Hartley, P Hogan; G Nolan, M Nolan, N Kenny; R Hogan, E O'Donoghue, E Guinan.
GALWAY (MH v Kilkenny): M Harlihy; P Loughnane, G Mahon, C O'Donovan; M Ryan, J Lee, K Kilkenny; A Carey, D Kennedy; D Whyte, K Hynes, V Coone; K Wade, J Canning, B Hanley.
