Kilkenny relying on rivals for a favour

Team news:  Kilkenny's quest to set a new league-championship record is partly out of their hands.

Sunday's final round of phase one games in the National Hurling League decides which teams remain in the hunt for the title and right now Kilkenny have no guarantee they'll be one of them.

If they are to win a record third successive league-championship double they might yet have to thank either Clare or Waterford. Those counties meet in Ennis and the winners are sure to advance to the play-off phase from Division One A. The losers would be relying on points difference. But a draw would mean they both advance, thus killing off Kilkenny's chances no matter what score they put up against Dublin in Nowlan Park.

"First of all we have to try to win on Sunday," says Kilkenny manager Brian Cody. "And then we have to try and win by as much as we can. But that doesn't really change our approach to the game whether it's Dublin we're playing or whoever.

"And we know if there is a result down in Ennis then it's partly in our own hands, and that it will come down to points difference. But if there's a draw down there we know we're gone and there's nothing we can do about it."

Essentially, Kilkenny on their part will need to beat Dublin by around 16 points if they are to advance. Not surprisingly, Kilkenny will start with their strongest possible team. In one change from last week's win over Clare, Tommy Walsh starts at midfield in place of Paddy Mullally, who had been doubtful after picking up an injury last time out. DJ Carey will again feature in the full-forward line.

Dublin manager Humphey Kelleher won't finalise a team until this evening. Corner back Aodhan de Paor has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Galway, along with Clare, Waterford and Kilkenny, also share the real interest in Sunday's games, and are currently the best placed to reach the play-offs from the same division. A win over Laois in Pearse Stadium would ensure that route, and manager Conor Hayes names a full-strength team with only one enforced change: wing forward David Tierney was ruled out with a broken finger and Mark Kerins is called in as his replacement.

The Clare team won't be finalised until tomorrow as manager Anthony Daly has found himself without several first-choice players. Goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald is suspended, Brian Lohan, James O'Connor and Barry Murphy were already injured, Gerry Quinn has picked up a hand injury and Colin Lynch isn't available for selection as he is out of the country on business.

Waterford manager Justin McCarthy will announce his team later today and changes are expected after last Sunday's poor display against Galway. Forward Seamus Prendergast remains the main concern with a hamstring injury but he'll be given every chance to start.

In Division One B, Cork and Tipperary clash at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and have shuffled their teams from last week. Tipperary change goalkeepers, with Justin Cottrell replacing Brendan Cummins, and there are five other changes: Colin Morrissey and High Maloney come into the defence, Denis Byrne starts at midfield and forwards Mark O'Leary and Noel Moloney are given their first league starts of the season.

For Cork, Martin Coleman takes over from Donal Óg Cusack in goal, while back into the starting line-up come Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Adrian Coughlan. Only one of the Kieran Murphys will start, with the Sarsfields player lining out at right corner forward and the Erins Own player named in the substitutes.

Offaly have left vacancies at left-corner back and midfield for their match against Wexford at Birr while Joe Brady has again been selected at full forward.

COLLEGES FIXTURES

SUNDAY: All-Ireland SFC semi-finals: St Patrick's, Navan v Col Chroist Rí, Nenagh, 3.0, B White (Tipperary); St Mary's, Galway v St Patrick's, Dungannon, Markievicz Park, 1.45, J Bannon (Longford); B Semi-finals: Portlaoise CBS v St Augustines, Clonmel, 3.0, M Walsh (Limerick), Rice College v St Louis, Kilkeel, Clones, 2.0, M Henry (Cavan).

KILKENNY (SH v Dublin): J McGarry; M Phelan, N Hickey, M Kavanagh; S Dowling, P Barry, JJ Delaney; D Lyng, T Walsh; J Hoyne, H Shefflin, C Phelan; DJ Carey, M Comerford, E Brennan.

GALWAY (SH v Laois): L O'Donoghue; D Joyce, D Cloonan, O Canning; D Hardiman, David Hayes, F Moore; F Healy, T Óg Regan; M Kerins, D Forde, R Gantley; Damien Hayes, E Cloonan, A Kerins.

TIPPERARY (SH v Cork): J Cottrell; T Costello, J Devane, C Morrissey; E Corcoran, D Fanning, H Moloney; D Byrne, P Kelly; Mark O'Leary, J Carroll, B Dunne; P O'Brien, N Moloney, E Kelly.

CORK (SH v Tipperary): M Coleman; W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, A Coughlan; J O'Callaghan, M Byrne, P Tierney; K Murphy, E Collins, B Lombard.

OFFALY (SH v Wexford): B Mullins; B Teehan, G Oakley, AN Other; K Brady, B Whelahan, C Cassidy; AN Other, N Mannion; G Hanniffy, R Hanniffy, B Murphy; M Cordial, J Brady, B Carroll.

LIMERICK (SH v Antrim): A Shanahan; M Cahill, T J Ryan, B Carroll; D Reale, P Sheahan, M Foley; O Moran, P Tobin; P O'Grady, J P Sheahan, D Sheehan; A O'Shaughnessy, S O'Connor, D Ryan.