Kilkenny shares Shefflin's pain

Leading Kilkenny GAA figures last night rallied around crestfallen star Henry Shefflin and insisted he will return to full fitness from a fresh cruciate injury blow.

The Cats’ legend has been ruled out of next month’s All-Ireland hurling final after a scan and consultation yesterday with renowned surgeon Dr Tadhg O’Sullivan at the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford.

Shefflin sustained the damage to his left knee during the first-half of Sunday’s semi-final win over Cork, the second occasion he has endured such agony after tearing the cruciate in his right knee during the 2007 All-Ireland final.

Shefflin will now be denied the chance of a record ninth All-Ireland senior hurling medal on the field of play in the September 5 showdown and last night expressed his devastation at the news.

"I am so disappointed I don’t know how I feel. I was hoping against hope that it was something else but the surgeon has confirmed my worst fears. I heard some pop. I had an idea I was in a bit of trouble but I was hoping it wasn’t what I feared it might be. I am devastated."

Shefflin added he had no definite surgery plans at this stage. The loss of their talismanic attacker is a massive blow to Kilkenny but county GAA secretary Ned Quinn last night predicted that Shefflin will still play a major role in their preparations for the final.

"The determination is there anyway to win the All-Ireland title but I believe they’ll want to win it even more now for Henry. It’s a devastating blow for the player and all our thoughts in Kilkenny are with him now. I’ve been watching hurling for nearly 50 years now and he’s the greatest player I’ve ever seen.

"He works hard for the team, is great in the dressing- room, provides leadership on the pitch and is the main scorer. He’s the complete package. I’ve no doubt that Henry will be part of the dressing-room in the build-up to the game, given the commitment he has showed to Kilkenny in the past

" A number of Kilkenny players have suffered cruciate injuries, including Henry, in recent years but all came back. I’ve no doubt he will do the same."