Kilkenny keep Carter on the bench

Team captain Charlie Carter has again failed to nail down a place in the Kilkenny starting line-up for the Leinster hurling semi-final against Dublin at Nowlan Park this Saturday.

Carter will start among the substitutes, from where he made regular appearances during their successful National League campaign.But there is room for four players to get their first championship start. PJ Ryan takes over the goalkeeping duties from James McGarry, who remains sidelined with an ankle injury. Also getting a starting place is Aidan Cummins of Ballyhale Shamrocks, who forms part of a rearranged defence in the absence of Philip Larkin. Two half forwards, Conor Phelan and Tommy Walsh, also get first championship starts although they did feature regularly during the league.

Ten of the team who started the successful All-Ireland final last September start again on Saturday, with the missing players being McGarry, Larkin, Andy Comerford, John Hoyne and Jimmy Coogan. Comerford, last year's captain, continues to be troubled by an Achilles tendon injury and is unlikely to feature, but Coogan and Hoyne may make an appearance as substitutes.

In Munster, Waterford manager Justin McCarthy has settled on two changes to the team that drew with Limerick last Sunday for the semi-final replay back in Thurles on Saturday evening.

Eoin Murphy returns to the half-back line after recovering from the broken jaw he sustained during the league, and Peter Queally reclaims his place at left-half back.

There are several positional switches as a result of the two introductions. Aidan Kirwan loses his place at right corner back to Declan Prendergast, who drops back from the half-back line. James Murray moves to midfield from the defence to accommodate Queally, while Eoin Kelly moves to right half forward, with Andy Moloney going to full forward at the expense of Seamus Prendergast.

Limerick are expected to finalise their team later today, with the main question being who will replace star forward Andrew O'Shaughnessy, who yesterday started his Leaving Certificate.

KILKENNY (SH v Dublin): PJ Ryan; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, JJ Delaney; R Mullally, P Barry, A Cummins; D Lyng, P Tennyson; C Phelan, H Shefflin, T Walsh; DJ Carey, M Comerford, E Brennan.

WATERFORD (SH v Limerick): S Brenner; D Prendergast, T Feeney, B Greene; E Murphy, F Hartley, P Queally; T Browne, J Murray; E Kelly, K McGrath, D Bennett; J Mullane, A Moloney, P Flynn.