The GAA world was rocked on Saturday morning with the news of the death of Paul Shefflin. The former Ballyhale Shamrocks player died suddenly at the age of just 41 on Friday night.
Shefflin's death has left a cloud over this weekend's league fixtures, with his brother Henry absent from Galway management duties in Pairc Uí Chaoímh.
That clash between Cork and Galway was chosen for broadcast by RTÉ and, at the outset of their coverage, hurling legend Jackie Tyrrell paid tribute to his fellow Kilkenny man.
Paul Shefflin: Tyrrell and Fitzgerald mourn loss of Ballyhale man
Paul Shefflin was a three-time All-Ireland champion with the legendary Ballyhale Shamrocks. After retiring as a player, Shefflin moved upstairs at the club and worked as a coach and treasurer.
His brother Henry recently took over as manager of the Galway intercounty team, and was understandably absent from their league fixture against Cork on Saturday night.
Reporting from Cork ahead of the evening's hurling action, Jackie Tyrrell mourned the loss of Shefflin at such a young age, and praised all that he had done for the Ballyhale club and community.
When the news trickled through yesterday, you're asking the question: why? All the things you alluded to - a great club man, a great family man, and possibly because of Henry's success he was possibly overshadowed.
You look at his list of honours, with three club All-Irelands. A great club man, coaching and treasurer of the club. I played against Paul a few times, he was a real tough cookie, but a gentleman off the hurling field.
It's a sad, sad day for a community like Ballyhale that have had a lot of tragedy down throughout the years. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Shefflin family and all the communities associated with Ballyhale GAA tonight.
Another Kilkenny man, intercounty coach Brian Cody, also paid tribute to the late Shefflin ahead of Kilkenny's game in Dublin's Parnell Park on Saturday night.
"A really, really sad time for Ballyhale, the whole of Kilkenny and all hurling people everywhere."
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody on the passing of Paul Shefflin.#RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/Lcvv9QDJ8p— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 5, 2022
There was a minute's silence at Parnell Park for Paul Shefflin ahead of throw-in, which evolved into an emotional round of applause.
Former Clare goalkeeper and intercounty manager Davy Fitzgerald was asked what role the GAA could play in the grieving process for the Shefflins and the Ballyhale community.
Fitzgerald effused about the GAA's community spirit, while downplaying the importance of hurling games at such a sad time.
Well, that's what the GAA brings. It will bring support that's badly needed.
Listen, hurling's a great game, but it's not everything. From all of us, our sympathies are with the Shefflin family. It's tragic. We'll play a game of hurling here later on and that will be grand but, at the same time, our thoughts are with them.
That's the most important thing - to all the family, our hearts go out to them.
Paul Shefflin's death is likely to reverberate around the GAA for some time, and his loss will be felt keenly throughout the season for Kilkenny GAA.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
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