Shefflin waiting to discover seriousness of knee injury

HENRY SHEFFLIN faces an anxious wait before he finds out the extent of the knee injury sustained in Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

On the advice of team doctor Tadhg Crowley, he will rest for a few days before he visits hospital to undergo a scan.

In the meantime, he says his priority will be to enjoy the celebrations, but he’s naturally concerned that he may be ruled out of the county championship.

“Everything has been about Kilkenny up to the final and once that’s over you turn your attention to the club,’’ he commented.

“And, I wouldn’t have been captain of the Kilkenny team without my club-mates. I’d love to be there again next year, but it’s hard to know at this stage.’’

Ballyhale Shamrocks are due to play James Stephens on Sunday week in the county hurling league final, and because of qualifying for that, they have a bye through to the second round of the championship a fortnight later.

Television pictures showed Shefflin smiling as he lay on the ground at the time of his injury, just before the half-time whistle.

He explained yesterday that he had been directing his attention at referee Diarmuid Kirwan.

“I said, ‘Diarmuid you don’t want me to start giving out to you now, you’d better allow that point.’ I think Tommy (Walsh) was just after hitting the ball over the ball and he was just after blowing the whistle.’’

For the record, the score was allowed.