Shefflin leaves centre stage with head held high as tributes flood in

"You made the best of yourself" was Brian Cody’s glowing tribute to Henry Shefflin when the player informed his manager of his decision to retire on Monday.

The pair had met the previous Friday where Cody told the most decorated hurler in history to reflect over the weekend before making up his mind about extending his inter-county career to a 17th season.

When Shefflin called to inform him he was bowing out, Cody was understanding but just as admiring of him.

The 36-year-old revealed: “For me the highlight was, when I was speaking to Brian about retiring on Monday evening, we had a general chit-chat afterwards, saying it was phenomenal what we have achieved etc. He was very complimentary to me and one of the nicest things he said to me, and I talk to young kids going around the place... ‘Henry, you’ve got the very best out of yourself’. For me that is what I would hope I would always try and do.

“I didn’t go out every day and get the very best out of myself, no doubt about it, but over my career, my parents are here today, when I was 16 or 17 did they think we were going to have an occasion like today? I’ve obviously got the best out of myself on the field of play and I hope I’ve learned something from that, which I’ll transfer off the field of play. That, for me, has been the best.”

Shefflin made his mind up while watching Kilkenny’s win over Clare on TV with his wife Deirdre on Sunday. He made that revelation after reading out a statement in Langton’s Hotel confirming his departure from the county panel.

Throughout a series of media interviews, he appeared content with his call to finish up having won every championship honour at county and club over the last seven months. “I’m very comfortable because there is pressure playing with Kilkenny, pressure being Henry Shefflin. Of course there is. And pressure of ‘will he stay or will he go?’ I’m very comfortable with and happy in my decision. I said in the statement, personally contented. That’s the way I very much feel.”

Like every retiring player, Shefflin remembers the defeats more so than the wins and he rues the 2010 All-Ireland final defeat to Tipp as much for the decision to play having picked up a cruciate injury in the semi-final. After intensive treatment, he started the game only to be replaced in the 12th minute after breaking down. “Playing in that All-Ireland in 2010, if I was back again would I do it? No, I wouldn’t. I myself would but Brian and the medical team would probably say, ‘No, it’s not the right thing to do’.”

He also regrets not savouring All-Ireland victories earlier in his career as much as he should have. “There were occasions where I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should. Where I put too much pressure on myself and all those kind of things. But overall, that’s about the whole learning experience of it.

“When I was younger I probably didn’t enjoy the success as much. I just moved onto the next year and said, ‘What do I have to do now to get ready?’ As I get older, I realised that I really did need to experience and embrace the whole occasion and all that goes with being part of this.”

Using his hand to illustrate his point, Shefflin counted several reasons why he could have remained on. “I’m in good physical condition. There’s a good opportunity of Kilkenny being successful. It’s March time now, there’s only a few months to go. And, you know, your heart telling you you don’t want to let go. They were very much the arguments for staying on.”

But there were a number of push factors too. “Then you were like, ‘Is now the best time to go? You’re 36 years of age. It’s a great opportunity’. There was so many other things that, on a positive side as well, and just when I weighed them all up, now was the correct time to make the decision. And as well, do you want to go in and be a sub and not play? All those things come into it. I’m not going to be human if I didn’t say that so you look and you say, ‘Is there an opportunity for yourself to be sitting on the bench and maybe not playing?’ I love playing the game, that’s what I love doing.”

Shefflin said people’s positivity towards news of his departure has only re-enforced his belief that he has made the right decision. Although, not going to train in Nowlan Park, he admitted, will be a wrench.

Yesterday Richie Hogan revealed Shefflin, who he had named as “The King” in his phone, had left their WhatsApp group having made his announcement to his team-mates prior to speaking to the media.

Shefflin said: “We have our WhatsApp group and they’d be slagging me about social media. I sent them a message out in the carpark. I used to be very sad when I looked up the messages when one of the lads has left the group and the next minute there’s a lovely message from him saying, ‘thanks very much for everything’. I had to do that at 11.30am out in the car park in Langton’s today. That was very sad.

“I wouldn’t be here today without those lads. We’ve so many good memories on and off the field of play and I’m going to miss them so that was the only emotional thing about it, saying goodbye to the lads.”