‘No timescale’ for Shefflin start

Kilkenny selector Martin Fogarty has admitted there is “a major question mark” about Henry Shefflin’s availability as the All-Ireland hurling champions get their Leinster campaign underway against Offaly on June 9.

Fogarty said there was “no timescale” for the 33-year-old’s recovery and indicated rehabilitation could not be rushed. Shefflin broke a bone and damaged ligaments in his left foot during Ballyhale Shamrocks’ Leinster Club SHC semi-final defeat by Oulart-the-Ballagh in December. After a delayed discovery of the injury, Shefflin had surgery that included the insertion of pins into his foot.

The nine-time All-Ireland winner has been in a foot splint and on crutches until two weeks ago and had a planned procedure at Blackrock Clinic on Wednesday to determine the progress of his recovery. While Fogarty has yet to hear any results from Wednesday’s tests, he maintains it will be very difficult for Shefflin to get into peak condition in just over eight weeks.

“He had surgery on his foot and it’s just a case of wait-and-see what’ll happen with it, whether it comes right or not,” said Fogarty.

“He was in a foot splint until very recently so he just had to report back after a couple of weeks when he got out of the foot splint.

“He’s off the field since he had the operation. He has some upper body stuff done but he’s been on the crutches until recently.

“The championship is a question mark, of course it is. The first round of it is a major question mark. He’s driven but it’s all about the healing process. You can’t beat nature.”