Is there one more feat in Kilkenny’s warrior king Shefflin?

With eight minutes left in yesterday’s All-Ireland final a face flashed up on the giant screens in Croke Park: pale, intent, following the action surge and swirl between the white lines in front of him.

He was a substitute, but not just any substitute. How could he be when yesterday was a game, but not just any game? Henry Shefflin was being readied for action, preparing to come on and win his tenth senior All-Ireland medal on the field of play: the Kilkenny crowd, seeing his image, roared their approval.

When he finally took his place on the field, with four minutes of regulation time left, the welcome was deafening. At that point the momentum had shifted significantly, however.