Black and Amber's new era to begin without Conor Browne - Kilkenny duo travelling in 2023

Kilkenny begin a new chapter under Derek Lyng next year but the new manager will have to plan without the services of Conor Browne and Mikey Carey, both of whom are travelling next year.

Half-back Carey (23) - who left in the summer - and midfielder Browne (26) both started in this year's All-Ireland final defeat to Limerick, with team-mate Eoin Cody confirming the latter's departure today.

"Conor is going travelling for the year," he told RTÉ Sport ahead of Ballyhale's AIB Leinster club SHC decider against Kilmacud Crokes on Sunday.

"He let the team know and we all wish him the best of luck. It's a massive loss for the team and for the dressing-room. Conor is obviously a brilliant hurler and he’s a great person.

"He’s heading off Down Under in January. He’ll be missed, he’s a great friend of mine and a lot of the team-mates."

Two-time All-Star Colin Fennelly came back to help Ballyhale win a fifth Kilkenny crown in a row after spending part of the year in San Francisco but Cody doesn't expect the 33-year-old to reverse his inter-county retirement.

"He's like a man renewed," said Cody. "He really enjoyed the summer, he probably enjoyed the break from hurling, and himself and Joey Holden both came back with a real hunger and love for the game.

"Colin is a great lad and if he came back it would be unbelievable. But it's about what makes him him. If he's happy with something else, i'm delighted for him.

"I think he's at a stage now in life where he's happy to just get on and do his own thing. That break he took was probably because he had his head elsewhere and hurling probably isn't the main focus in his life anymore."

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