Shefflin autobiography due for release next year

Kilkenny hurling supporters — and sports fans generally — can look forward to a treat next year, when Henry Shefflin’s autobiography will be published.

The life story of the Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman, who collected a ninth All-Ireland senior hurling medal last September in the Cats’ replay win over Galway, is due for publication in October 2013. Shefflin’s long and successful career has not been without its challenges: he has returned to All-Ireland success after cruciate injuries suffered in 2007 and 2010, while he also picked up a severe eye injury in the 2004 championship against Clare, though he recovered to line out in the following game against Waterford.

Last season he suffered a serious shoulder injury in the Kilkenny county championship and spent several months on the sideline this year before returning to help the Cats to another All-Ireland title.

The Kilkenny talisman is the only player to have started every one of manager Brian Cody’s championship games, going back to 1999, and he has indicated that he will line out for the county again next season, with Cody’s continued participation as manager a key attraction.

“It would be very hard for someone like myself, Noel [Hickey], JJ [Delaney] or Tommy [Walsh] to go into the dressing room and Brian was not there,” Shefflin said recently.

“We have all said that the reason why we have been so successful is because of Brian and the management team and the way they drove us.”

The book is available for pre-order on the penguin.co.uk website.