Shefflin delays call on Kilkenny future after Ballyhale’s win

Henry Shefflin says his club Ballyhale Shamrocks’ victory in the Kilkenny county final on Sunday "defers his decision" on whether to play for the Cats next year.

Speaking after Ballyhale’s win, the 10-time All-Ireland medallist said he was hoping to make the Leinster Club final.

“Whoever won Sunday was going to have it difficult going to Dublin next weekend, the people of Ballyhale will want to celebrate and we’ll celebrate and join in with them. To go play the following week is always tough, it’ll be seriously tough, but wouldn’t it be great to still go — there are only two games left in the Leinster Club championship and we’d love to do it.

“You’re probably wondering if it defers my decision, of course it does because I said I’d see how the club went and I’m delighted to have another week anyway. It just defers the decision, that’s what I’ve said from the outset and that’s what I’ll do. Hopefully it’ll keep going for another few weeks.”

Shefflin said he felt good physically: “I feel good, Sunday wasn’t one of my best games, but I’ve played well since the All-Ireland – I feel fit, I feel fresh as obviously I didn’t play much during the year. I feel very good and I’m delighted to be still playing – sometimes when you go along with Kilkenny you can tire a bit, mentally more than anything, but this year I didn’t have that.

“Maybe some of the lads did, but they didn’t show it today anyway.”

Shefflin said he had been looking forward to the club campaign since the end of the intercounty season.

“You’re fresher, you want to play games and that’s why you do all the training. For me I enjoy playing the games – obviously the weather is beginning to pull that back a bit, but being with the club is brilliant.”

The Kilkenny icon paid tribute to the performance of two of his clubmates last Sunday, starting with TJ Reid, who ended with 10 points.

“He was phenomenal, when I was starting off TJ was only a young chap down the field. He was very skilful when he started, and he still has that, but now his all-round game is top.

“He’s 27, at his prime, and he’s showing that. And I’m delighted for all the club lads – there might be questions whether the county players all put it in for Ballyhale, but the club lads all stood up today.

“Cha (Fitzpatrick)? Ye haven’t seen the games, but quarter-final, semi-final, he’s been doing that. People might question Cha on his dedication and that – absolutely not, he’s in great physical shape, he works away – he may have a devil-may-care demeanour but he works hard behind the scenes. I’m thrilled for him, he’s been a staunch leader for Ballyhale.”

Sunday was one of the sweetest victories for Ballyhale, he added. “It was reminiscent of our first one, a lot of people were questioning us – and rightly so – whether we’d have the bottle or the hunger, but I think this year’s been different. We performed very well in some of the league-championship matches and I think it was right up there again. We have a new team coming up again which is great because we’re a small place. We have the panel but we’ve had training matches with 34 which, for a small place like ours, I haven’t seen before.”

Weren’t they still relying on the same 12 or 13 starters, though?

“In a small club that’s the way it goes, but those are 12 or 13 very good players. It’s brilliant. Clara have been worthy champions but we had the bit between our teeth this year and wanted to get back on top again.

“We lost to O’Loughlin’s in one of the early rounds but we played well the following game against Carrickshock, and I think that showed we were back where we wanted to be.”

They needed to be good after leaking 1-2 in the opening minutes on Sunday. “I thought for the 25 minutes after we played well,” said Shefflin. “We sprayed the ball around and we got some great scores, and that’s more like us when we’re in our prime.

“Andy (Moloney) and Colm (Bonnar) came in, new selectors and they freshened everything up.”

The big forward was nursing a sore hand after the game, though the injury wasn’t serious: “It’s sore but you’ll pick up knocks this time of the year and they’ll be sorer than during the summer. And then I picked up a yellow card, which was funny. I thought it was a legitimate shoulder, the best shoulder I put in all day. I think it was more what I said to him (the ref) when I sat on the ground.”

So, just to confirm . . is he expecting a call from Brian Cody about 2015, then? “I don’t know,” said Shefflin. “He leaves us all off to concentrate on the club, as it should be, and that’s what we’re doing.”