Jackie Tyrrell’s return not driven by Henry Shefflin’s All-Ireland medal record

Jackie Tyrrell maintains that his decision to prolong his Kilkenny career isn’t rooted in a desire to catch 10-time All-Ireland medallist Henry Shefflin, predicting that some of his younger colleagues will ultimately surpass that haul of medals.

Defender Tyrrell, who currently has nine All-Ireland medals, aims to return from a broken bone in his foot to compete in January’s Walsh Cup.

The 33-year old said that after missing the latter stages of this year’s MacCarthy Cup win, he has never looked forward to playing in January so much.

But he knocked back the suggestion his motivation for returning is a desire to join Shefflin as the only GAA player to win 10 All-Irelands. In fact, he predicted the record is likely to be broken at least once in the coming years by a number of current Kilkenny players.

TJ Reid and Richie Hogan, 28 and 27 respectively, are best placed to make that breakthrough with seven All-Ireland medals each at present. Eoin Larkin currently has eight medals though at 31 another three wins is a big ask.

Asked if the drive for 10 is why he’s returning in 2016, Tyrrell said: “Not really. Obviously I’d love to get to 10 but you don’t want to go back just to get an All-Ireland. You want to go back to prove yourself and be the best that you can be. It is nice and it is another small incentive but it wouldn’t be the driving force for going back. I think it will be broken, definitely. If you’re looking at the age profile of Cillian Buckley, Richie Hogan, then those guys have a great opportunity to do it. I think it will be done. I don’t know if our guys will definitely do it but they have a great chance to do it.” Tyrrell revealed that he hasn’t played a game since last July though expects to get the sign off to resume to full action next week.

He admitted that in the early stages of his recovery he didn’t know if it would be possible to keep going in 2016.

“It was when I knew that I didn’t have to get another operation on it that it helped me to make the decision,” he said. “Then I thought about what I wanted, do I still enjoy it and get the buzz, so that was a bit of a journey. Eventually, I came to the decision that I really wanted to get back.”

Interestingly, Tyrrell said much of the reason he has nine All-Ireland medals is the influence of Brother Damien Brennan, a hurling figure who was also credited by Henry Shefflin with giving him invaluable advice throughout his career.

“I just met him and had a bit of a chat and he started doing work with me, helping me out, hurling wise, physically, mentally, confidence really,” revealed Tyrrell. “Then I just really blossomed and went from strength to strength after that. We’d still talk. He has no real profile, doesn’t really want attention or anything like that. He’s just a guy who works away in the background.”