Rice: Shefflin good for a starting role

Injured Kilkenny star Michael Rice has echoed his manager’s assertion that Henry Shefflin is capable of starting the All-Ireland final and lasting the 70 minutes against Tipperary next Sunday.

Despite not starting a game since the league final win over Tipperary, Brian Cody recently confirmed the nine-time All-Ireland winner was fit and the option of saving him as a potential impact-sub would not influence his selection policy. Rice, meanwhile, is adamant Shefflin is in peak shape.

“Yeah, easily,” Rice said when asked whether Shefflin could last the entire match. “That’s the type of lad he is, I think he’s fitter than ever from what I’ve seen of him. I don’t think there’s any fears like that about him, he just minds himself incredibly well. I don’t think there could be a professional player that could mind himself more.”