We had the pleasure of welcoming Henry Shefflin, arguably the greatest ever hurler to the Hard Shoulder this week. We're less than 72 hours from the All-Ireland hurling final and it must be a surreal time for Shefflin, who for the first time in years, will not be part of the build-up for a Kilkenny team prepping for an All-Ireland hurling final.
Shefflin sat down with our own Conor Neville for a chat about his favourite All-Ireland, Galway's unpredictability and the Sunday Game's waistcoat wars. Asked about whether he sees himself as a successor to Brian Cody as Kilkenny manager, Henry was keen to play down any talk of a rush into management either at an intercounty or club level.
"I'm involved with the U-6 team with Ballyhale at the moment and it's been a serious struggle for me in the summer months. It's been a massive, massive challenge for me," he said jokingly.
Asked whether he took a Davy Fitz-style appraoch to management, shouting fire and brimstone, Shefflin said he takes a bit more of a low-key approach.
"It's more 'can you tie my helmet Henry?' and 'can you tie my laces, Henry?' His tactical approach to U-6 hurling: 'keep it simple'.
"But it's one of the great things about the GAA that after your intercounty career you can head back to your club."
Shefflin also shed some light on John Mulhall's disappearance from the Kilkenny set up after his sing-song following the 2011 All-Ireland featured a few digs at Tipperary. Shefflin was keen to clarify that Brian Cody was only joking when he said that Mulhall 'would have the shortest intercounty career of all-time'.
"John might have been better signing it to twenty people in the pub down the road but to be fair to jim he was given a chance in the league the next year and started the league semifinal. He was cut from the panel later but that's Brian Cody's ruthlessness for you."
Finally, in light of the high style on display on the Sunday Game these days, Shefflin put to bed any speculation that the panel were trying to one up each other in the fashion stakes.
"Myself and Ger and Cyril aren't sitting down and discussing our dress sense. Television is about presenting yourself well. But we don't have those conversations."
You can hear the entire interview on Part 2 of this week's Hard Shoulder which you'll find below.
Shefflin, a Centra ambassador, was speaking to Balls.ie to celebrate Centra’s ‘Champions of Healthy Living’ community events which took place across 13 different locations during the Championship season with a selection of the finest inter-county stars.
Shefflin's popularity is not diminished in retirement - King Henry was voted Ireland’s favourite hurler title in nine out of the 13 locations this summer.
‘Champion of Healthy Living’ ambassador, Henry Shefflin, commented; “It was really inspiring to see the number of children that came along to the events throughout the Championship season, in both established and developing hurling counties. Hurling is a fantastic team sport and a great way for both adults and children to keep active while having plenty of fun. I have no doubt that some of the aspiring hurlers I met during the summer will be lining out in their county colours in no time.”
