Shefflin resigned to sideline duty

Henry Shefflin is now all but certain to miss his first Championship match in 15 seasons after picking up a stress fracture on his already injured left foot.

The 2012 hurler of the year’s hopes of continuing his proud record of 62 consecutive Championship appearances look extremely uncertain after an MRI scan on Monday confirmed he had damaged his metatarsal or what is medically known as a Lisfranc injury.

Shefflin, 34, speaking at the launch of the Lucozade Sport Club Crusade yesterday, was back in the “space boot” he had been wearing in the aftermath of foot surgery in December.