Surgery to keep Shefflin out of league campaign

Henry Shefflin may miss the entire league campaign for Kilkenny after it was confirmed that he will undergo surgery on a broken foot.

The nine-time All-Ireland winner will be on crutches until the beginning of March after a scan revealed the damage.

The Kilkenny 'Hurler of the Year' was injured during Ballyhale's Leinster club Championship defeat to Oulart-The Ballagh on December 1.

The problem was thought to be a sprained ankle at first, but a scan showed up a break in his left foot and he will miss out on the team holiday next month to go under the knife at Aut Even hospital in Kilkenny.

Last night, Shefflin said: "I can't believe I'm facing into surgery again because I was really looking forward to an injury-free winter.

"I'll hopefully have the operation in early January and it'll be two months on crutches after that. I suppose it's not the worst time of year for it to happen.

"Put it this way, if you offered me at the start of the year to have the season I had, but I'd need a foot operation at the end of it, I'd have taken your hand off."