Shefflin wary of ‘flying’ Galway

Paul Keane

Kilkenny's top marksman Henry Shefflin isn't so sure.

If he had his way, the Cats would have reached Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final against Galway winning every game easily just like last year's 19 point hammering of the same team.

As things stand, the Cats have shown the best and worst of themselves in retaining the Leinster championship and beating Limerick in the quarter-finals.

At times they've looked their usual jet-propelled selves from defence to attack. Other times it's like they've been operating on dirty petrol, sort of chugging along and just about reaching their destination.

Shefflin is well aware of the situation, and insists they'll need to perform for 70 minutes for the first time since whipping Offaly back in June if they're to see off Galway and reach a fourth consecutive final.

"You hear people saying it's good to win a quarter-final narrowly ahead of a semi-final but that's all just talk.

"The reality is that you want to win every game well because that's what you set out to do and, in fairness, we haven't been doing it.

"At the moment we're not going so well. That's not taking away from Limerick's performance as they played very well the last day.

"They probably didn't play as well in the first-half and if they had we probably wouldn't be looking forward to an All-Ireland semi-final now."

Ever the ruthless tactician, Kilkenny manager Brian Cody noted their shortcomings and took immediate action, shutting the training gates on fans at training so as to take remedial action in private.

It's mooted that they've tried out some new formations, with versatile Tommy Walsh, who performed well on Damien Hayes last year, in defence.

There's also talk of a return for work horse John Hoyne in attack with James Ryall moving up to midfield.

"Everybody seems to be talking about our training sessions but there's nothing to say really," Shefflin said.

"A lot of people down in Kilkenny love their hurling and when the club championship is not on they come and watch us training.

"Brian maybe felt we weren't focused enough on the training field so we trained behind closed doors, that's all. Training's gone well and we have no complaints."

The four-time All-Star says Galway's heavy defeat to Kilkenny last year will be a serious incentive to them.

"They have no hangover from last year whatsoever and in fairness if that was us that had been beaten we wouldn't lack motivation either.

"They're flying now and all you have to do is look at Damien Hayes' goal against Tipperary.

"He threw his man off him and nearly burst the net. It kind of summed Galway up at that stage and we have to match that now."