Does Shefflin have the fitness to go the distance?

Forgive us for swimming against the tide and not entertaining the one question hurling enthusiasts have been poring over all week — will Henry Shefflin march behind the Artane Band on Sunday afternoon?

The statistics surrounding the 35-year old play like a broken record at this stage — started in 13 All-Ireland finals since making his championship debut in 1999, even lining out against Tipperary in 2010 though carrying a knee injury.

The above headline is more concerned with the statistics of 2014 and instead enquires as to whether Shefflin still possesses the fitness to survive 70 minutes inside the whitewash. In the five league games this spring where Shefflin was selected from the first whistle, he saw out all five, including the extra-time decider against Tipperary.