Shefflin can fire Ballyhale to glory

AFTER a mixed week for favourites in Cheltenham, most people expect Ballyhale Shamrocks to repay the bookies’ faith in today’s AIB All-Ireland Club hurling final.

The Kilkenny and Leinster champions take on Galway kingpins Loughrea in the second game of today’s double-header, and many expect them to win pulling up.

Ballyhale boast some fine players — you never win an easy Kilkenny senior title — but in Henry Shefflin they have an all-time great at his considerable peak.