KILKENNY HAVE WITHDRAWN from this year’s Walsh Cup as a mark of respect after Johnny Ryan, father of All-Ireland winning captain Lester, passed away.

Kilkenny had been scheduled to play NUI Galway in their opening group game last night but it was postponed due to poor weather conditions and was instead rescheduled for next Friday night in Ballyragget. Kilkenny had also been scheduled to play Carlow next Sunday in their final group game.

But the decision taken by the Cats will now see Carlow take on NUI Galway in a Walsh Cup playoff next Friday night in Fenagh at 7.30pm.

Kilkenny’s opening competitive game for 2015 will now be their Allianz Division 1A hurling league match against Cork in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday February 14th.

Clara’s Lester Ryan captained Kilkenny to last September’s All-Ireland senior hurling title and collected his third All-Ireland senior medal in the process.

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