Renewed Shefflin won't spare the neighbours

Gavin Cummiskeyon how one poor performance inspired the great forward to even greater heights

TO ANALYSE the career of Henry Shefflin is to chronicle a great sporting life. People will attempt this ad nauseam over the coming decades, once the phenomenon finally fades and we are left only with memories.

For now, we must be satisfied to witness this generation's greatest hurler.

Since the arrival of Brian Cody in 1999 and Shefflin's subsequent promotion to the senior line-up we have seen ever-increasing levels of excellence. 2002 and 2006 were the highlight years to date as he was recognised by peer and scribe alike as simply the best.

In the latter season every accolade possible was garnered, including the full set of honours with Ballyhale Shamrocks who went on to claim the All-Ireland with victory over Loughrea on the following St Patrick's day.

The following year another All-Ireland title followed but a ruptured cruciate ligament saw him sit out the second-half of that final destruction of Limerick, after scoring 1-2.

He climbed the Hogan Stand to deliver a speech that ranks alongside any produced by an All-Ireland captain.

The backdrop of tragedy was aptly addressed as he dedicated the success to Vanessa McGarry, the wife of Kilkenny goalkeeper James, who died in a car crash a few weeks previously.

Shefflin disappeared into a long and painstaking period of rehabilitation. A further mark of the athlete was his immediate return to magnificence this summer.

He has used low points to catapult himself to new heights before. This reporter was dispatched to Nowlan Park in October 2005 to witness the county final between Ballyhale and James Stephens, then All-Ireland champions.

So much was expected of Shefflin that day but he underperformed, registering just two frees and was eclipsed by county team-mate Eoin Larkin who seemed to raise a white flag in response to each Shefflin wide.

We delved into the archives: "In the 53rd minute, trailing 1-15 to 1-10, Ballyhale attacked with real menace. The sliotar came to Shefflin. He glanced up and saw team-mate Mark Aylward all alone on the edge of the square but the hand-pass was plucked from the air by Donnacha Cody.

"The clearance came to James "Cha" Fitzpatrick who streaked past a couple of defenders before firing a low shot at goal. It was deflected by goalkeeper Francis Cantwell back into the path of Shefflin. It seemed a certain goal but again a James Stephens player was willing to put his body on the line. Take a bow Philly Larkin. He who had diligently tracked the Shamrocks' trump card all afternoon."

On the final whistle Shefflin made a beeline for the dressingroom, anguish etched all over his face. It was a slightly haunting sight to see such a great player so distraught but it merely proved a catalyst for what followed.

Over the next 12 months Shefflin unleashed hell upon all who stood in his path, returning to the county final to rattle off 10 sumptuous points as Shamrocks devoured O'Loughlin Gaels.

On Sunday, he like every one else, breaks new ground. None of these Kilkenny players have encountered a Waterford hurler in September. The swashbuckling exertions of veteran defenders Ken McGrath and Tony Browne are more than familiar to him but these men have waited a lifetime for a September collision. Still, he'll treat it like every other white -heat occasion.

"It's Kilkenny versus Waterford. Is it ever different? We play club league matches here in Kilkenny, you play the same teams when you get to a county final. It doesn't make any difference. It is a different time of the year all right but it is still a match. The same principles apply: "You score more than the other team and you win."

"Yeah, there is a bit more hype to it but it is a Kilkenny versus Waterford match."

He neglects to mention Kilkenny's comprehensive league victory last Spring, albeit after "Brick" Walsh was unfairly dismissed before half-time.

Waterford know that curtailing Shefflin will not quell Kilkenny but it will go a long way towards it. McGrath or Browne, be it on the square or out the field, will in all likelihood be tasked with tracking him. Old warriors in sight of a rare opportunity. They will harass him with renewed vigour.

Shefflin arrives at this juncture with renewed vigour after a winter of discontent and will welcome a duel with either of these grizzled stick men.

"It was only a matter of time before they got to an All-Ireland and that's where they are at now," he notes. "Form counts for a little bit but once the ball is thrown in I think form goes out the window. Ye in the media are great, obviously you have a job to do, and favourites have to be there and bookies have to have favourites."

He leaves tales of romance and back stories for the rest of us.