Hickey and Power set for Kilkenny recall

News round-up: Kilkenny manager Brian Cody seems certain to recall All Star defender Noel Hickey to the starting line-up for Sunday's Leinster hurling final in Croke Park as Michael Kavanagh has been ruled out with an ankle injury.

Hickey missed most of last season through injury and the Leinster semi-final against Westmeath but is reported to be back in full training.

JJ Delaney started at full back in Mullingar but may be moved to the wing to accommodate Hickey.

The only other expected change, when Cody announces a side tomorrow night, is the return of Richie Power. The young forward has been plagued by a thigh-and-groin problem since the league final but lined out for the under-21s against Wexford last week.

Because of a number of injuries, Wexford manager Séamus Murphy is also resisting temptation to announce a team until tomorrow night.

Donegal look certain to be without their free-taker Michael Doherty for the Ulster football final against Armagh on July 9th. Doherty injured a knee and damaged teeth in an accidental clash with Derry's Paul Cartin late in the recent Ulster semi-final.

Doherty's dental work proved a success but a second scan is required on his right knee. A cruciate-ligament injury has been ruled out but he will visit the orthopaedic surgeon Ray Moran in the Blackrock Clinic next Monday.

Michael Hegarty would be favourite to assume free-taking duties in Doherty's absence, which would open the door for Adrian Sweeney to return to the starting line-up. Sweeney is also an established free-taker.

Derry All Star forward Enda Muldoon, who was shown a straight red card in the same semi-final, received a personal hearing last night from the Central Disciplinary Committee.

Television replays showed Muldoon punching Paddy Campbell in retaliation after the Donegal full back appeared to hit him in the groin.

Derry officials intended to invoke video evidence as a defence against a long suspension, though the minimum four-week ban seems unavoidable.

Paddy Dowd comes into the Longford team at full forward in place of the injured Jamesie Martin for Saturday's second-round football qualifier against Tipperary. Longford recovered from the Leinster championship defeat to Dublin to beat Waterford in the opening qualifier.

Laois have made four changes in their team to meet Westmeath in the hurling qualifier in Mullingar on Saturday. Damian Culleton, Mark Rooney Darren Rooney and Enda Meagher come into the side at the expence of James Hooban, John Brophy, John A Delaney and James Hyland.

GAA president Nickey Brennan has expressed shock and sadness at the tragic death of 17-year-old Liam O'Regan, who died while hurling for his club Ballinora in Cork on Monday evening.

Brennan said he knew the O'Regan family personally and Liam's parents, Michael and Anne, had a long association with his own Conahy Shamrocks club in Kilkenny before moving to Cork. He said Liam and all the O'Regans had a deep love of Gaelic games.

He extended his and the association's deepest sympathies to Liam's family, friends and team-mates.

LONGFORD (SF v Tipperary): D Sheridan (capt); D Brady, N Farrell, C Conefrey; S Mulligan, A O'Connor, D Reilly; B McElvaney, L Keenan; T Smullen, P Barden, P Berry; D Barden, P Dowd, B Kavanagh. Subs: G Evans, D Masterson, B Gilleran, J Martin, K Smith, P Foy, P Murtagh, W Murray, E Williams, S McCormack.

LAOIS (SH v Westmeath): P Mullaney; B Campion, P Cuddy, J Walsh; C Healy, D Rooney, M McEvoy; J Phelan, J Fitzpatrick; E Meagher, J Young, Z Keenan; T Fitzgerald, M Rooney, D Culleton.