Showing simplicity under the spotlight

Interview/Henry Shefflin: Gavin Cummiskey talks to the country's outstanding hurler who explains how he coped with his eye injury and why Kilkenny need to score more points.

What separates the great players from the good? Watching how Henry Shefflin simplifies the most difficult field sport on the planet is a start.

Shefflin has become the modern prototype for quality. Filling the shoes of the Kilkenny greats with ease. By Sunday he may have set himself a course to surpass even the great ones.This year more than any before he has been the first among equals in the Kilkenny camp.

That level of superiority, once possessed by DJ Carey, has passed to the Ballyhale Shamrocks man. A total of 6-40 in six outings this year cannot be ignored and all this with a potentially career-ending eye injury along the way.

The Gerry Quinn affair has been put to bed, the two players buried the hatchet within a week as others called for the Clare defender's head. The GAC stuck to the official report, even though the referee missed the incident.

Shefflin had surgery to repair a tear duct on his lower right eye. What was particularly noticeable about the ensuing week between the replayed victory over Clare and the All-Ireland semi-final, was the utterly professional manner Shefflin behaved under the glaring spotlight.

The week also showed how he is revered nationwide. Kilkenny hurling aficionados wait for no man but they do have their favourites. Team doctor Tadhg Crowley also played a significant role in the speedy recuperation process.

"He was a great help," said Shefflin, before adding: "All the people around Kilkenny and the country were a great help for sending on their support. Dr Mark Mulhern down in Waterford as well, the surgeon, was very good to me. Very positive from minute one. That helped a lot."

The 25-year-old may deal with daily adulation but one of the summer's biggest controversies was unfolding under his eyelid. It cannot have been easy but he merely treated it like any minor injury.

"When you get a knock, especially in such a sensitive area you are a small bit worried so I was delighted to get back as no one wants to miss an All-Ireland semi-final. The way I look at it is, it could have been a slap in the head to a light knock. I got a few stitches and that was basically it. I was moving grand by the following Wednesday."

By midweek Brian Cody also knew he would be okay. Waterford could not be sure. So, like all smart tacticians, Cody used the uncertainty to Kilkenny's advantage. Shefflin was redeployed to the corner at the last minute. They said it must be a cautious move. The result? Havoc. Shefflin blasted 2-4 in a performance just shy of his earlier epic display against Galway.

The next level of magnificence is expected. If Kilkenny prevail Sunday's match could become the Shefflin final. Considering what Cork bring to the table, it is going to take his best display to stop them. Eddie Brennan and Martin Comerford could steal the plaudits, or even one last exhibition from DJ, but the odds are stacked on Shefflin to dominate. He is keenly aware the Kilkenny forwards need to raise the bar.

"Just found out, from the two semi-finals; Kilkenny 12 points, Cork 27 points. That is a big danger," he admitted "Our backs against Waterford were absolutely magnificent, without them we wouldn't have got over the line but that's where ourselves in the forwards have to pick it up. We drove 16 wides (against Waterford), 10 of them were very scoreable, you know, when we were all on our own. That comes from just practising."

Cork are doing likewise but what will really make the difference? What is the secret component to beat Cork? Shefflin breaks it down.

"At the end of the day you worry about your own personal performance and the team performance. If it's good enough, it's good enough. If not, you have to say fair play to the other team. All we can work on is our own game.

"Hurling is a simple game. It's about possession, you know? Getting the ball first and who can score the most."

Simple for some.

Shefflin Factfile

Club: Ballyhale Shamrocks

Age: 25

Occupation: New Holland Finance

Honours:

3 All-Irelands SHC medals

1 All-Ireland under-21 HC (1999)

5 Leinster SHC

2 National League

2 Fitzgibbon Cup

3 All-star awards

Hurler of the year 2002