Shefflin eager for return

It’s one of the lesser-known of his vast store of records but Henry Shefflin hasn’t missed a championship start with Kilkenny since 1999.

When you consider the setbacks he has suffered in that timeframe, including two serious cruciate injuries, both of which required surgery, then leaving aside the eight All-Ireland senior medals, the 10 All-Star awards, the scoring charts rewritten, that in itself is some achievement.

This year, however, there is a chance he may miss out on the Cats’ summer opener with a shoulder problem which required surgery before Christmas.