The Kilkenny selectors have left two positions in their attack vacant for Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final clash with Waterford at Croke Park. Centre forward Johnny Dooley and full forward Niall Moloney will undergo fitness tests.
Dooley broke a finger in training, but should be able to play provided his overall fitness is satisfactory. In the case of Moloney it appears that a leg injury has limited his training. Three players, Andy Comerford, Shane Prendergast and Ken O'Shea, are standing by to fill one or both of the positions. Prendergast, from the Dicksboro club, will be a strong candidate for a place in the side. According to many observers he would be an automatic choice if it were not for a series of injuries which have limited his ability to train.
Comerford is an experienced player and would also be a strong challenger were it not for similar problems, while O'Shea is regarded as a very promising player who will, eventually, become a regular member of the side. The result of last night's deliberations means that the Kilkenny defence and midfield will be identical to that which played in the Leinster final against Offaly but, depending on who is available in attack, the placements will remain doubtful.
The name of Hickey may not yet be synonymous with Kilkenny hurling, but Tom Hickey will captain of the senior side on Sunday and his brothers Noel and Canice will be involved in the minor match against Galway.
The hurling is bred deep in the Hickey family, although a senior All-Ireland medal has yet eluded them. Minor All-Ireland medals have been won by Jim (1991) and Tom (1993) while Andrew ('94 and '95), John ('96 and '97), and Noel ('97 and '98) have won Leinster championship medals.
Tom Hickey was faced with a difficult decision some months ago. He was advised that his studies and hurling were not compatible.
But he found a way around it, and matters have fallen into place beyond his wildest dreams since.
"I was given the choice and I didn't know what to do. But I managed to combine the two. I would be kicking myself now if I had given up the hurling, but things have worked out perfectly for me and I haven't lost out as far as my studies or hurling are concerned," he said yesterday.
His studies ended with an honours degree in Public Administration from Limerick University and now, at 22, he will lead out the Kilkenny team for the most important match that his county has been involved in for five years.
The interest in the match has been intense in both Kilkenny and Waterford and a crowd of more than 2,000 turned up at Nowlan Park for the Kilkenny training last night, forcing officials to lock the gates leading to the dressingrooms as youngsters mobbed the players in search of autographs.
A spokesman for the Waterford county board confirmed yesterday that the demand for tickets was "overwhelming", while Croke Park officials said that a crowd of 50,000 is expected for the match. What has pleased Kilkenny supporters greatly is the fact that Charlie Carter is definitely fit to play.
He suffered a freak injury to his face, close to his eye, in training but, after examinations in three hospitals in Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin, he has been cleared to play, which means that the side will have the services of their top scorer. He has recorded 1-12 in the championship campaign to date.
