Shefflin has eye operation

KILKENNY'S All-Star hurler Henry Shefflin has undergone a minor operation on an eye injury sustained during Saturday's hurling qualifier victory over Clare.

His availability for the All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Waterford on Sunday is in doubt but officials are confident he will be passed fit later in the week.

"He should be okay," county secretary Pat Dunphy said yesterday. "He underwent a minor operation in Waterford Regional but hopefully we will know more later in the week."

The Ballyhale Shamrocks man picked up the injury in an off-the-ball incident 13 minutes from the end and was taken from the field in distress.

Dunphy said that the Kilkenny county board had no plans to pursue the matter but noted that the "powers that be may take up" the case after viewing television footage of the incident.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody is also confident of Shefflin's availability for the Waterford clash.

"Thanks be to God that our doctor is top-class and luckily there was a surgeon looking at him as well, and he reassures us that his eye is fine and he will be perfect," Cody said.

"But he has blurred vision at the moment, and, at the end of the day, Henry Shefflin is more important than any match.

"I won't get into the nitty-gritty of it of how he got the injury. Whatever happened, I'm not sure about, so I'm just going to worry about how Henry is," he added.

"Henry is a vital cog in our hurling wheel, and I hope he will be okay," Shefflin's teammate DJ Carey added.

"I don't want to see a player of his immense class and skill injured. If a hurley goes through your helmet then it is serious," he added.

Carey also heaped praise on the Kilkenny defence for their containment of Clare.

"We have had three tough games on the trot against Galway and Clare [twice], and we are thrilled to be in the All-Ireland semi-final after being beaten first time out by Wexford," he said.

Cody, meanwhile, said they are thrilled to be in contention for three All-Irelands in a row after surrendering their Leinster title.

"It is a massive achievement, and the semi-final against Waterford should be a mighty game."

Ace Wexford forward Paul Carley is an injury worry just two weeks before their semi-final clash with Cork.

Carley limped out of Glynn-Barntown's senior football championship encounter with Sarsfields, on Saturday and is now a major worry for the semi-final.

The wing-forward received immediate treatment to his ankle.