Brian Cody has confirmed that All-Stars Noel Hickey and James 'Cha' Fitzpatrick are facing a race against time to be fit for Kilkenny's Leinster SHC final against Dublin on July 5. Both players missed last Saturday's thrilling semi-final win over Galway through injury, and are in danger of missing the provincial final as well according to the Cats boss. "Noel is a serious doubt for the Leinster final, very definitely. 'Cha' is a doubt but not as serious a doubt as Noel, I think. Noel has had groin problems for a long time and had the Gilmore's Groin operation." "He has recovered from those, was going well in training and just last week someone landed on his knee and he damaged a medial ligament in his knee. It's just very unfortunate." Asked about Fitzpatrick's chances, Cody replied: "It's very difficult. We're dealing with a cracked bone and it's in the hand so when it it prevents him from hurling, that's the key to it. We just don't know that yet." Tweet

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