1. Joe Dermody
Age: 25
Height: 5 11["]
Weight: 14st
Club: St Lachtain's
Confidence has grown exponentially as he has made the goalkeeping position his own after a couple of false starts. A strong physical presence, his breakouts against Waterford were by times inspirational and alarming. Hasn't had many opportunities to display his shot-stopping. Puck-outs have been reliable.
2. Tom Hickey (Captain)
Age: 23
Height: 5 9["]
Weight: 12st 5lb
Club: Dunamaggin
Captain because of his club, but corner back very much on his own merits. Would probably have featured last year but exam pressure forced him off the panel. Fitzgibbon pedigree reflected in good reading of the game and confident close marking, he has been an integral part of an impressive line.
3. Pat O'Neill
Age: 27
Height: 6 2["]
Weight: 14st
Club: Young Irelands
Opinions vary as to how reconciled he is to the switch from centre back, but form this season has been solid. Physically imposing, good in the air and a powerful striker, he will be best served by a conventional interpretation of the full back role, although Offaly may try to manoeuvre him out the field.
4. Willie O'Connor
Age: 31
Height: 5 7["]
Weight: 12st 5lb
Club: Glenmore
Another super championship for O'Connor who has been buzzing with adrenalin this summer. Tight and dogged in his marking and absolutely in command of his corner, he has conceded one point from play all season. As aggressive as ever coming out with the ball and as accurate in his distribution.
5. Michael Kavanagh
Age: 19
Height: 5 10["]
Weight: 12st
Club: St Lachtain's
Last year's minor broke into the team with typical Kilkenny serendipity by being called up for a winter match when the team was short a player. Unostentatious but clinically effective performances haven't allowed any opponent a look-in, including Ken McGrath in the semi-final.
6. Canice Brennan
Age: 26
Height: 5 11["]
Weight: 13st 5lb
Club: Conahy Shamrocks
Vindication after the unfair pillorying directed at him during brother Nicky's management. Has brought physical assurance and focus to one of the team's problem positions, although difficulties with John Troy in the early stages of the Leinster final pose questions about his man-to-man defence.
7. Liam Keoghan
Age: 30
Height: 5 10["]
Weight: 12st
Club: Tullaroan NOT as spectacular this year since Canice Brennan's arrival at centre back has eliminated the need for Keoghan to do fire brigade duty on the half-back line. Started the season in the corner but reverted to the wing, where he's better suited. Steady, but has been caught for scores more than once.
8. Philip Larkin
Age: 25
Height: 5 11["]
Weight: 11st 6
Club: James Stephens
A capable performer now established in the position after an unsuccessful League experiment at full back. Has established a consistency of performance this year, working his way into matches and hurling very well against Tony Browne in the semi-final, a vital contribution to a narrow victory.
9. Peter Barry
Age: 23
Height: 6
Weight: 13st
Club: James Stephens
Has confounded those sceptical about his ability to keep going in the engine room. His work in the Leinster final wasn't universally appreciated but his role in taking on Waterford's much-vaunted centrefield was inescapable as he tirelessly tracked up and down the field. Faded a little towards the end.
10. Brian McEvoy
Age: 24
Height: 5 11["]
Weight: 13st
Club: James Stephens
Despite the well-taken points against Waterford, McEvoy is a strong industrious wing forward whose duties more concern the servicing of his colleagues. He will patrol the corridor between the 40s, scrapping for possession, collecting ball and getting it quickly into the attack.
11. Andy Comerford
Age: 25
Height: 6 2["]
Weight: 13st 8lb
Club: O'Loughlin Gaels
Mystery surrounds his difficulty in being given a starting place. Comerford's most obvious position is centrefield, but with the current combination doing well, he's on the 40. A good striker of the ball, his role is to provide a physical focus for the attack and break ball for the strike hurlers around him.
12. DJ Carey
Age: 27
Height: 5 11["]
Weight: 12st 4lb
Club: Young Irelands
After the melodrama of the on-off retirement, the missing hunger doesn't appear to have been rediscovered. A season in dire need of the due-a-big-match cliche to come to fruition. Has lost a bit of pace and hasn't really adapted his game to compensate. Always seems to manage hefty scores against Offaly, though.
13. An Other
Age: 23
Height: 6
Weight: 14st
Club: St Martin's
Peculiar decision of Kevin Fennelly to delay the naming of Niall Moloney. Once the injury ruse was rumbled, there wasn't a sufficiency of plausible options to keep the matter genuinely in the balance. Whether the player will be inspired or irritated by the stunt remains to be seen.
14. PJ Delaney
Age: 25
Height: 5 9["]
Weight: 12st 9
Club: Fenians
Has yet to recapture the form of a prodigious debut season five years ago. Apprehension about his activities - rather than their likely consequence - seems to cause trouble for defences. Failed to trouble Martin Hanamy in the Leinster final and will be hoping for better luck on Kevin Kinahan.
15. Charlie Carter
Age: 27
Height: 5 7["]
Weight: 11st 5
Club: Young Irelands
His recent late development has proceeded apace. Although quiet against Waterford, his Leinster final performance was a tour de force and he was there when the chips were down against Laois. Hasn't entirely acquired the bloody-mindedness to go for regular goals, but remains the team's most reliable forward.
