Boost for Kilkenny as Shefflin returns to action

GAELIC GAMES:HENRY SHEFFLIN made his return to competitive hurling action at the weekend, scoring two points as a second-half substitute for Ballyhale against Dunnamaggin in the domestic league.

The 32-year-old’s 20-minute cameo wasn’t enough to prevent the Shamrocks losing, but the nine-time All Star looked extremely sharp, despite making his first appearance since aggravating a cruciate knee ligament injury in last year’s All-Ireland final.

“He’s been doing a lot of training, around five or six nights a week and to be honest, we put the question to him a couple of times if he was doing too much but he was happy,” revealed selector Brendan Mason yesterday.

Mason also revealed that Michael Fennelly would have the cast removed from his broken hand on Friday.

Shane Dooley powered home a goal from a 25-metre free six minutes from the end, helping a depleted Offaly to a 2-15 to 2-13 win over Wexford in a challenge to mark the official opening of Oulart-the-Ballagh’s new club grounds yesterday evening.

Munster hurling champions Waterford scored a 2-21 to 1-17 victory against All-Ireland holders Tipperary in a challenge at Holycross last night to mark the official opening of the club’s new John Doyle centre.

Waterford’s All Star corner back Noel Connors was a late casualty with a hand injury.

In Dungarvan at the weekend, an ambulance had to be called to Fraher Field after a player collapsed in the dressingrooms.

The Ardmore player had earlier picked up a head injury during the intermediate hurling championship game against An Rinn.

OFFALY: J Dempsey; S Egan, D Kenny, B Mulrooney; D Hayden, E Murphy, D Markham (0-1); S Kelly, J Mulrooney; C Egan (1-3), J Bergin, S Dooley (1-6, 1-5f); T Carroll (0-2), G Healion (0-1), C Gath. Sub: D Molloy (0-2) for J Mulrooney.

WEXFORD: N Carton; P Roche, K Rossiter, C OShaughnessy; L Prendergast, C Kenny, M Jacob; D Redmond (1-1), H Kehoe; PJ Nolan (0-1), T Waters, S Banville; R Jacob (0-2), E Martin (1-3), N Kirwan (0-5, 3f). Subs: E furlong for Watgers; J Berry for Kirwan.

WATERFORD: C Hennessy; J Maher, W Hutchinson, N Connors (0-1), T Browne, D Prendergast, J Nagle; E McGrath (0-1), K Moran (0-2); G Crotty, S O’Sullivan (0-1), Pauric Mahony (0-9, 7f, 1 65); E Kelly, S Prendergast, B O’Sullivan (1-2). Subs: S Casey (0-1) for Kelly, Philip Mahony for Browne, S Walsh (1-2) for S Prendergast, M Walsh for D Prendergast (all h-t), J Mullane (0-2) for Crotty (52), A Kearney for McGrath (52), T Ryan for B O’Sullivan (61), L Lawlor for Connors (61), E Murphy for Pauric Mahony (64).

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; J Coughlan, G Hannigan, L Mackey; C O’Mahony, P Maher, J O’Keeffe; S McGrath, J Woodlock (0-1); P Kerwick (0-2), S Callanan (1-2, 0-1 65), N McGrath; J O’Neill (0-2), E Kelly (0-7, 3f), S Bourke (0-3). Subs: B O’Meara for N McGrath, M Gleeson for S McGrath, C Cowen for O’Keeffe, S Lillis for Coughlan (all h-t), M Doyle for O’Neill (55), S Carey for Callanan (53), J Doyle for Hannigan (63), T Lowry for Cummins (65).