By Cian O'Connell

Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy is expected to miss the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

A knee fracture means Cody must plan without Murphy, who is one of the most accomplished performers in the game.

Cillian Buckley, James Maher, Conor Delaney, and Rob Lennon are all ruled out of the May 11 encounter against Dublin at Nowlan Park.

"Eoin Murphy, Cillian Buckley, James Maher, Conor Delaney, Rob Lennon, are all definitely out," manager Brian Cody confirmed on Friday. 

"Richie Hogan has been struggling with an injury all along. He is in training now. So, that’s our situation.

"It’s a bad run to get. Eoin and Conor got them playing club matches, James got it training with the club. It’s just the situation we find ourselves in."

Cody is uncertain when Buckley will be available following knee surgery. "Not a hope for week two," Cody says. "For any of them. 

"Cillian has been out for a long time. He’s back. Not hurling training, just running. We don’t have a timeframe for him.

"He’s such a focused fella. He’s absolutely intent on getting back. When? Who knows?"

Richie Hogan has also been bothered by injury recently. "He’s had very interrupted preparation," Cody states. "He’s a fella who looks after himself well, in very good shape, between gym and on the pitch. It’s hard to say with Richie. 

"Obviously, it has been very interrupted for him, even last year as well."