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Henry Shefflin in action in the drawn All-Ireland final against Galway. INPHO/Billy Stickland
Sharpshooters

Shefflin leading the way in front of goal

A look at the national scoring charts and a breakdown of Kilkenny and Galway’s scoring returns ahead of next Sunday’s All-Ireland final replay.

KILKENNY’S HENRY SHEFFLIN is in pole position to land the award for top scorer in the 2012 All-Ireland senior hurling championship ahead of next Sunday’s final replay.

Shefflin’s 0-12 haul in the drawn match saw him overtake Limerick’s Shane Dowling and Cork’s Patrick Horgan to create a seven point gap at the top of the leaderboard. His most feasible challenge next Sunday in Croke Park will come from Joe Canning, who moved up to third place after striking 1-9 for Galway in the drawn tie.

But Canning will need to post a total ten points greater than Shefflin to peg back the Ballyhale Shamrocks club man. No other player involved next Sunday is currently in the top ten.

1. Henry Shefflin (Kilkenny) – 3-47 (56) – (3-5 from play)
2. Shane Dowling (Limerick) – 4-37 (49) – (4-8 from play)
3. Joe Canning (Galway) – 2-41 (47) – (2-10 from play)
4. Patrick Horgan (Cork) – 1-42 (45) – (1-12 from play)
5. Pa Bourke (Tipperary – 2-29 (35) – (2-5 from play)
6. Shane Dooley (Offaly) – 4-21 (33) – (2-5 from play)
7. Willie Hyland (Laois) – 1-26 (29) – (1-8 from play)
8. Diarmuid Lyng (Wexford) – 1-25 (28) – (1-9 from play)
9. Niall O’Brien (Westmeath) – 2-20 (26) – (2-3 from play)
10. Maurice Shanahan (Waterford) – 0-24 (24) – (0-4 from play)

To date this season Kilkenny have amassed 12-91 from their five championship matches, two in Leinster and three in the All-Ireland series. 13 different players have contributed to that total – seven forwards, four midfielders and two defenders. TJ Reid, Richie Power and Aidan Fogarty lead the way in assisting Shefflin.

Kilkenny: Henry Shefflin 3-47, TJ Reid 3-6, Richie Power 1-11 (0-3f, 0-1 ’65), Aidan Fogarty 2-6, Eoin Larkin 1-5, Richie Hogan 1-4, Colin Fennelly 1-3, Michael Fennelly, Paddy Hogan, Michael Rice 0-2 each, Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Cillian Buckley 0-1 each.

Galway for their part have racked up 14-98 from their five championship matches, three in Leinster and two in the All-Ireland series. 13 players have also supplied scores on the Galway side – nine forwards, two midfielders and two defenders. David Burke, Niall Burke and Damien Hayes have spearheaded the drive to help Shefflin in that department.

Galway: Joe Canning 2-41, David Burke 4-6, Niall Burke 1-15 (0-6f, 0-2 ’65), Damien Hayes 1-10, Cyril Donnellan 1-9, Conor Cooney 2-2, James Regan 1-5, Iarla Tannian 0-4, Andy Smith 1-3, Davy Glennon 1-0, Tadhg Haran, David Collins, Niall Donoghue 0-1 each.

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