Kilkenny's bright opening to the defence of their league crown has been tempered by the news that midfielder Conor Fogarty has suffered a fractured ankle.

The 24-year-old from Erin's Own was forced to retire prematurely in Saturday's away win against Cork and scans have revealed the severity of the problem.

It's a big blow for the player who looks set to be sidelined for the duration of the league and a headache that manager Brian Cody could have done without.

The Cats are already down 13 of the squad that claimed All-Ireland honours last September due to a combination of retirements, injuries and club commitments.

On a positive note, John Power is expected to make his return in Sunday's round 2 clash against Dublin. 

Tweet

Most Read Stories