Shefflin and Walsh return to training

Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin and Tommy Walsh returned from injury to take a full part in an open training session last night, as thousands flocked to Nowlan Park.

Shefflin trained for the first time since injurying his knee during the Cats' All-Ireland semi-final win over Cork on August 8.

The Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman, who sustained a cruciate ligement injury, was initially ruled out of contention for the final by orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Tadhg O'Sullivan.

But he has defied the odds, helped by some intensive work with sports injury specialist Ger Hartmann, and is on track to feature in Sunday week's All-Ireland decider.

Shefflin was on target in a keenly-contested 40-minute training game played amongst the Kilkenny panel last night.

Tullaroan defender Tommy Walsh also made a successful return to training. There were doubts over his fitness after he sustained a shoulder knock in a Kilkenny Senior Hurling League game against James Stephen's recently.

In a further boost for the Kilkenny management, John Tennyson, another knee injury victim, and Richie Power, who suffered an ankle injury in training on Monday, both participated in last night's session.

However, it was not all plain sailing for Brian Cody's charges as defender Brian Hogan had to have a hand injury tended to and he seems doubtful for the final.