Shefflin 'the complete hurler'

All-time Senior Hurling Championship top scorer Henry Shefflin is the 'complete hurler', according to former GAA President Nickey Brennan.

Speaking on Newstalk's 'Off The Ball' programme, Brennan says that the Ballyhale Shamrocks and Kilkenny star has something special when it comes to his exploits in the small ball code.

"I was fortunate enough to play with Eddie Keher, I actually coached DJ Carey for five or six years at various levels - but I would say Shefflin is the complete article," Brennan enthused.

"He's not just a great hurler, he is a great leader and he inspires those around him.

"He encourages those for whom it's not quite working for on the day.

"That leadership is invaluable and he'll have to do it again in a couple of weeks' time."

Looking ahead to Kilkenny's All-Ireland final tussle with Tipperary next month, Brennan expects the Cats to prevail - but knows just how tough a task his county brethren have ahead of them.

"I think they will (win), but they are going to have a very tough task. This is a very good Tipperary team.

"I will say one thing is that this Kilkenny team has achieved a lot, but it has not beaten Tipperary (in the Championship) and that is something that they will relish.

"It should be said that Tipperary will equally relish the challenge of playing Kilkenny.

"The last time Tipperary played Kilkenny in 1991, I was a selector on the team, so I have first-hand knowledge of what went on. Something similar, but the roles were reversed.

"Kilkenny were a very young team, we had just won the Under-21 All-Ireland but were quite inexperienced.

"Tipperary had won the Senior All-Ireland in 1989. I remember well Ollie Walsh a couple of nights before when we had the team discussion saying to the players, 'lads the biggest worry we could have here is that the day could pass you by, that the excitement could pass you by'...and it did in a way."

He added: "We came back and won two All-Irelands after that, which we may have not won had we won in 1991. It's the opposite now.

"You have the up-and-coming Tipperary young bucks all full of enthusiasm.

"Kilkenny are an experienced team and favourites in many people's eyes. The roles are reversed and who knows what might happen!"