'King Henry' savours medal number nine

Henry Shefflin admitted winning a record ninth All-Ireland SHC medal was 'a special feeling' as yesterday's 11-point replay win over Galway sunk in for the Kilkenny forward.

Shefflin and his Cats team-mate Noel Hickey became the first players in GAA history to win the Liam MacCarthy Cup for a ninth time, with Shefflin having the unique honour of winning all nine on the field of play.

Now 33, 'King Henry' has come through a series of worrying injuries in recent years to help Brian Cody's men add to their trophy haul - they have now won six of the last seven All-Irelands, with only Tipperary able to break their stranglehold in 2010.

Speaking after the 3-22 to 3-11 triumph over Galway, Shefflin admitted: "Last year a very sweet victory because of (coming back from) the cruciate injury more than anything else.

"There were major concerns and questions over if I would ever get back there again. I just think this one captures my whole career more than anything else.

"I would definitely have to say that this one is sweet. As well as that if you'd spoken to me the Monday after the Leinster final, I'd have had serious question marks about myself.

"So to reach this now after the summer, I'd have to say this is definitely the sweetest. As well to win the ninth medal, myself and Noel (Hickey) today, is a special feeling."

Twice Shefflin have come back from two cruciate knee ligament injuries in recent seasons - one in each knee - and he also missed this year's league campaign with a shoulder problem.

But the Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman is famed for his fitness and durability and showed his worth to the Cats yet again yesterday with a contribution of 0-9 (0-5f, 0-2 '65').

Cody's charges pulled through, showing great character and resilience to bounce back from that 10-point Leinster final defeat to Galway, the late disappointment of the drawn All-Ireland final and also the concession of two early goals at Croke Park yesterday.

David Burke netted twice to move Galway into a 2-2 to 0-5 lead, only for the Cats to take over and forage 1-11 to 2-4 ahead for the interval.

Shefflin's shooting accuracy kept them on course in the second half, a feat all the more impressive given that his shoulder injury had been a real concern for him in early summer.

"The Monday before we played Dublin in the first round of the Leinster Championship, I went down to puck a few balls off a wall and I couldn't puck the ball because my shoulder was at me," he revealed.

"To come from that stage to here...getting scans between the Dublin and Galway match, my mind wasn't totally in it, I was more concerned about my shoulder.

"At that stage I spoke to a few people and I said I'd put all those things in the past, look forward and start training. It's been perfect since then."

Worryingly for the rest of the hurling world, Shefflin is already planning for an injury-free 2013 and another shot at All-Ireland glory.

"I just want to be able to sit down this winter and not have an operation to look forward to.

"At my stage of the career you always review and evaluate and stuff like that. I'd love to be back again. Hopefully my body will allow me to do that," he added.