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The King

We asked Henry Shefflin to name his 3 toughest opponents from throughout his Kilkenny career

Excluding those he faced in the famous training matches.

HENRY SHEFFLIN BOWED out of hurling earlier this year and we sat down with the King to talk about his career recently.

We took the opportunity to ask who his toughest opponents were throughout his time in black and amber.

Seanie McMahon

Clare 

Fergal McCormack of Cork gets past Clare's Seanie McMahon Fergal McCormack of Cork gets past Clare's Seanie McMahon in 1998. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

“He was just a serious hurler basically. I was playing centre forward at the time and he was just so well able to read the game, he was very strong in the air and the thing about it was he could hurt you then because he could score a couple of frees.  Or he could get the next ball and put it over the bar from play.

“It was just a wonderful era and he was a great player. He was so cute, he read the game so well. So you might be tipping along with your couple of points and he’s back at you with his couple of points.”

Sean Óg Ó hAilpín

Cork

Henry Shefflin and Sean Og O'hAilpin 14/9/2003 INPHO INPHO

“He was just so fit, so strong but just so fair as well. Always attacking the ball, physically very strong but as well as that he was a great.  I think he did the simple things very, very well. That’s what you need in top players.”

Padraig Maher

Tipperary 

Padraic Maher attempts a clearance Cathal Noonan Cathal Noonan

He was a very difficult opponent. Again, very strong in the air. The right hand under, like JJ Delaney, he comes at catching a ball in a different way to what you are used to. Very dynamic and like the others, very much a leader. If he started hitting ball, the crowd were right behind. And that’s something that could catch you out a bit.

Diarmuid O’Connor won a Mayo team-mate over €3,000 by winning Young Footballer of the Year

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