'It’s a heavy workload' but Tommy Shefflin embracing role as Kilkenny camogie manager

Tommy Shefflin during his time as Ballyhale Shamrocks manager. Pic: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

The appointment of Tommy Shefflin as Kilkenny camogie manager is seen as a big step forward on Noreside.

It is his first time in the hot seat but the Ballyhale Shamrocks native, and brother of Henry, is no stranger to Kilkenny’s elite. During his tenure with Brian Dowling the Cats claimed All-Ireland titles in 2020 and 2022.

However, the new boss says Kilkenny have fallen behind their competitors as they prepare for their first league outing at home to Galway in UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday, 2pm.

“Since I started in 2020 with Brian Dowling, there are probably 18 or 19 girls gone. That’s where we’re at. Even from last year Grace Walsh, Miriam Walsh, Julianne Malone are gone.

"Denise Gaule and Claire Phelan the year before. Anne Dalton over the years and the Farrells. We’re after losing huge names but that’s sport.

“There is a good crop of players coming through. They have been there or thereabouts in the minor. Loreto won the schools A and Johnstown won the B. But that takes time.

"It’s a huge step up from minor to senior. We realise where we are starting from and we understand that, we are away back down the pack.

“The six teams in 1A of the league, going by results from last year, Kilkenny are probably sixth in that group. But listen, we’ll give it a go and hopefully we blood a few new players and get the experience of playing at that level.

“There are a good few girls who won All-Irelands with us in 2020 and 2022 and they’re coming to that age where they have to be the leaders now - the likes of Laura Murphy, Michelle Teehan, Kellyann Doyle and Aoife Norris.

"Mary O’Connell is back, she’s a great addition. Again, she is at the age where she has to become a leader. These girls have won two All-Irelands in the last four or five years so it is their time now to take on the baton.

“Galway and Cork are above the rest. Looking at the All-Ireland, the levels they are at are huge. That is where the rest of us have to try and get to. In fairness to Waterford, Tipp and Dublin these teams are really pushing on. 

"Five or six teams fancy themselves to have a right go at it. That’s good because girls are pushing each other and the standard is going higher and higher.”

He should know, having coached Piltown to senior county honours and Katie Power now having the distinction of captaining her county.

“The first time Piltown won a county championship in Kilkenny, be it men or women,” he tells.

“So it is great to go into a club like that. And for the girls to achieve that alone, it’s brilliant for them. There are a good few Piltown girls involved with Kilkenny so that is how I got involved.

“Katie has been playing senior intercounty since 16 years of age and she’s 34 now. It’s a great honour for her to captain Kilkenny. What she has given to Kilkenny over the years and the injuries she’s got, some massive blows and lost All-Irelands.

"She was captain of Piltown this year and she is probably the most high profile player there.”

Taking the reins in Kilkenny, he realises, is full on.

“It’s heavy going. Trying to arrange your backroom with stats guys and video analysis, physios, doctors and nutrition. It’s never ending.

"We have 13 or 14 of a backroom team and 40 on the panel, that is 53 or 54 people you have to stay in contact with. You have to make sure everything is in place and provide the best for the girls.

“I’m a hands-on fella and I like to be stuck in the middle of it doing the training. It’s a heavy workload but that is the job I took on. At the end of the day the satisfaction I get out of it is trying to provide the best for the girls.

“One thing for us going back in with Kilkenny this year was myself and Pat O’Neill were there for four years with Brian and many of those girls are still there. We know them inside out, we even know how they think. So we can focus on the girls we don’t know that well.”

They include Loreto Secondary School Leaving Cert students Anna Doheny, Angela Carroll and Ciara Dunne.

“They’ll have big futures, they were playing with their school and won the All-Ireland. We want to give them that experience of being around the girls and training. Hopefully later in the year we’ll see more of them.

“There are 18 or 19 girls on the senior panel under the age of 23. There is a good crop, it is trying to get the mix right. We hope to be competitive in the league and see how girls go.”