Cats duo bid to defy medical opinion

KILKENNY manager Brian Cody says Henry Shefflin and John Tennyson are trying to “defy” medical opinion in order to play in next month’s All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary.

Tennyson and Shefflin are suffering from the normally season-ending cruciate ligament injury but Cody did not rule either player out last night. While he presumed they were out of contention, he said the matter was in the “lap of the gods”.

“Tommy (Walsh) and Brian (Hogan) are fine,” said Cody. “Henry (Shefflin) and John (Tennyson) – cruciate ligaments, serious injuries – I have to presume they won’t be alright. They’re getting treatment and it’s in the lap of the gods.

“We’re talking miracles here. That’s really it.”

Cody said he and his management team would not be leaving it until the 11th hour to make the call on selecting either player.

“It won’t be a last-minute decision. It won’t be. To have a hope of playing they need to be training flat out this week, to be considered for an All-Ireland final they’ll have to prove their fitness.

“It’s not going to be disruptive (to the team). The injury is tough on the fella who’s injured, but the team knows that. If they can’t play, they can’t play.

“The decision will be made this week. They won’t be able to play, you’d have to presume.”

Cody confirmed that the players are working to build up the muscles in their legs in order to “defy” medical opinion.

“That’s what we’re trying to do, to defy medical opinion. I’ve seen examples of cruciate ligament injuries like Dermot Earley, who is playing with one of those injuries, I believe.

“He came off after 20 minutes the last day but he’s expected to play in the All-Ireland semi-final, so you don’t know. We’re into speculation.

“From our point of view it’s not going to be a matter of ‘are the boys okay to play’ on the Tuesday or Wednesday night, though.”

Although Richie Power was on crutches at Kilkenny training last night, the Carrickshock forward is expected to make a full recovery in time to play in the decider.

Meanwhile Seán Óg O hAilpín has described Henry Shefflin as irreplaceable and believes his absence will be the sternest test yet of Kilkenny’s much-vaunted strength in depth.

“So if he’s not there, it’s a huge loss to Kilkenny,” O hAilpín said on Joe.ie. “You can talk all you want about the strength in depth they have, but losing Shefflin will be a major test of that. Yes, they have guys to replace him, but no-one of his calibre. He’s the best operator in the business.

“If any team can cope, if any team can bring someone in that might fit seamlessly into the team structures, it’s Kilkenny but it’s going to stretch them. They’ll still be favourites, but there’s no doubt they’d be travelling up a lot more confident if Henry Shefflin was fit and well.”

“As the years passed and his game developed, he has become the barometer of the Kilkenny forward unit,” said O hAilpín. “If he performs, Kilkenny perform.

“Often a team will decide to double up on him, or play their best defender on him. Two things on that note. First, he’s always able to cope with that and deliver a performance anyway, and second, his presence alone takes a bit of the spotlight off lads like Eddie Brennan or Eoin Larkin or Richie Power.”

“From my experiences of playing against Kilkenny, I can tell you that there’s no sweet science about them. Other teams might be switching around, chopping and changing every few minutes or switching into certain positions for puck-outs.

” There’s none of that with Kilkenny. They’ll line out six on six and every one of them will believe they can win their own ball – low or high, it doesn’t matter. ”