Shefflin’s waiting game on return

Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin hasn’t set a date for his return to hurling.

The eight-time All-Ireland medal winner won’t be part of the panel for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League final against Cork as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery performed in November.

“I am not going to go back playing unless I am right. I don’t think I could face another long lay-off if I got injured again,” said Shefflin who has endured two severed cruciates in his incredible career.

“I don’t know when I might be able to return. I haven’t done enough work to know. When I take a few knocks in training, I will have a better idea.

“I need heavier work. I need contact and matches. I am not getting as much as I would like. I have done all the strength building and conditioning work in the gym and so on.”

Of the possibility of making the Leinster Senior Championship semi-final on June 23, Shefflin said: “I need match practice now. I am getting closer, but I would want to be at this stage. The year is getting on. It is May. If I got a couple of weeks of good training and felt good, I would definitely be in with a chance.”