Budding star Henry Shefflin was too green in ’98

Kevin Fennelly said it was a regret of his he didn’t produce Henry Shefflin when he was Kilkenny manager in 1998.

Fennelly’s Ballyhale Shamrocks clubmate became a first team regular under Brian Cody the following season but in ‘98, aged 19, was still too green during Fennelly’s one season in charge.

“Looking back, I brought through Michael Kavanagh and Henry’s brother Tommy was in with me at the time. Henry, I suppose, we felt was very young and he hadn’t really developed coming out of minor.

“It was in a period of seven or eight months that he started to turn into the star player. It was only when he got to U21 that he blossomed. In a sense, I was unlucky because he had only turned 19 when I was there. But I did need players more than anybody that year and I regret the fact I didn’t produce him. I’d have liked to have had him.

“Hindsight is a great thing and for that year’s final (v Offaly) Mikey Phelan was injured and (Eamon) Morrissey was gone (to Dublin). It wouldn’t have done any harm to have had Henry there but he went onto have a massive career.”

Fennelly was proud of the way Shefflin handled himself in games through the years even when he was on the end of ugly treatment such as the eye injury he picked up against Clare in 2004.

“It was a nasty one because it was a serious blow but he came back from it in the replay. Henry was able to do that and he always worked hard at what he was good at.”

Meanwhile, Eddie Keher hailed the achievements and character of Shefflin, who surpassed him as the county’s record scorer. He also commended his exemplary disciplinary record which was under threat a couple of years ago.

Speaking yesterday, Shefflin revealed Brian Cody had convinced him to contest his red card against Cork in the 2013 All-Ireland quarter-final.

“One of those tackles was not a free and the other was simply a free. I was delighted when the powers-that-be realised what he did didn’t merit such a punishment and his reputation remained intact.”

Even during his multiple surgeries, Keher was adamant Shefflin was always going to beat his scoring record. “He was so prolific at it that I was certain he was going to do it. I knew his dedication would prolong his career barring injury but it was because of his determination during those injuries that he was bound to break it.”

Where Shefflin stands in the pantheon of hurling greats, Keher is of no doubt but it’s who loses out in the greatest team of all time that’s the problem.

“Maybe for myself, I don’t know,” he chuckled. “It’s very difficult to compare one era to another. Christy Ring, John Doyle and Jimmy Doyle had fantastic careers and the impact they had on hurling at the time probably raised it to a higher plain.

“In the last while, you’ve had DJ Carey and Henry and the game has progressed even further. Henry has to sit up there on top. Nobody can question that but where he will fit in on that team is the question.”