No doubts now over Shefflin the ‘predator’

IT WAS a couple of years ago, even as Kilkenny were winning the All-Ireland title in 2000, that a knowledgeable and fanatical supporter of the Cats remarked that the future of Kilkenny hurling lay in placing Peter Barry at centre-back and Henry Shefflin at centre-forward.

Apart from the fact that both those two were playing outstanding hurling in their wing positions, this statement seemed a little premature, given that Eamonn Kennedy won an Allstar that year in the number six slot, and John Power should have won another on the other side of midfield but was denied only by the inconsistencies of that selection process.

Two years on, Kilkenny in another All-Ireland final, and the sense in that claim is now obvious. The demotion of both Kennedy and Power caused many a raised eyebrow in Kilkenny, Power especially. But there can be no denying their replacements have done the business in their new positions.