Kilkenny's James Maher will miss the Cats' Leinster and All-Ireland defences after being hurt in a freak farmyard accident.

A member of the extended Black & Amber panel last year, the St Lachtains clubman exploded onto the senior intercounty stage in February when producing a Man of the Match display as arch rivals Tipperary were defeated in Division 1A of the national hurling league.

Lucklessly, he suffered a fractured knee in the accident and won't be involved with the squad for the remainder of 2016.

Manager Brian Cody confirmed: "James got a serious injury. He fractured his kneecap in an accident at home on the farm, so he's really unfortunate. He's going to be out obviously for a while."

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