Keher: Shefflin won’t rush return to keep record

Eddie Keher says Henry Shefflin won’t put himself under pressure to maintain his incredible run of 62 consecutive championship appearances dating back to his senior debut in 1999.

Last season’s Hurler of the Year is a doubt for the June 9 Leinster quarter-final against Offaly as herecovers from surgery on his foot.

Shefflin has also had to cope with pneumonia in January but has been at recent Kilkenny games togged out in a team tracksuit.

The closest the Ballyhale Shamrocks player came to ending his string of consecutive SHC games before came in 2011 when he damaged his cruciate in the semi-final against Cork before returning albeit only for a short period against Tipperary in the final.

Kilkenny legend Keher doesn’t believe Shefflin will risk himself to be back straight away. “I don’t think that motivates him. Despite what it seems with that Kilkenny team, I don’t think records motivate them.

“When you’re playing you don’t think about records, that’s more for when you get to my age and you start thinking back. They just want to hurl and win if they can. I don’t think they think of records or anything like that.”

Keher spoke to Shefflin recently and got the impression he will be back in time for the start of the Championship. When he does return, Keher would prefer to see him start a game rather than coming on as a substitute.

“It’s hard to visualise it,” he said of the impact substitution suggestion.

“I think he’ll be better off starting a game rather than coming in as an impact sub, whenever that will be. Even if it’s the second round I’d say he should start.”

Prior to last year’s Championship, Keher called for Shefflin to play in a full-forward role but was pleasantly surprised by his performances on the 40.

However, given his lack of fitness this year, he would like to see the 34-year-old named closer to goal.

“I thought he might play that role last year but he was very fit last year for someone who had suffered an injury and he was well able to cope with the half-forward line. I’d like to see him in the full-forward line last year and he could play a roving game from there. The injury is a foot injury which should hamper him more than the shoulder last year. He pulled us through all the difficult matches last year.”

As regards Sunday’s Division 1 final against Tipperary, Keher anticipates Kilkenny will be able to manage without Shefflin and his injured club-mate TJ Reid.

“They are fortunate that a few new faces have come in and performed well. They are a strong team even without Henry or TJ Reid. They’re going to be strong even without Henry.”