Updated at 8am
HURLING ICON HENRY Shefflin has hit back at those whom he believes are trying to ‘pressure’ him into retirement.
The 10-time All-Ireland medallist turns 36 next month and is tipped to become the sixth All-Ireland winning Kilkenny hero to quit.
He says he won’t confirm his plans until club side Ballyhale Shamrocks are finished in the AIB All-Ireland series.
That could be as late as march if the new Leinster champions reach the All-Ireland final.
In the meantime, speculation will continue that the game’s greatest player is poised to hang up his hurl.
“I think there’s a lot of pressure coming on for me that, you know, ‘you have to retire’ – I’ll make my own decision when the time is right,” said a clearly frustrated Shefflin.
“I will reflect. But that (viewpoint) doesn’t come into it whatsoever. I’m my own person. I’ll make the decision when the time comes.
“I’ll talk to a few key people that I trust and want to speak to. Obviously, I’m not going to make a decision until I’m finished with my club.
“I don’t think it’s fair to those lads down in the dressing-room, if there’s all this hullabaloo going on about whether you retire or whatever.
“So I think for me, and for the lads, the best thing I can do is keep concentrating (on Ballyhale).”
Champions Kilkenny are already reeling from the retirement of five household names. Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney were both nine-time All-Ireland medallists while David Herity, Brian Hogan and Aidan Fogarty have quit too.
But Shefflin similarly rejected the idea that he might feel compelled to stay on and offer leadership now.
“No, no, not whatsoever,” he responded. “I feel no pressure whatsoever. And I don’t feel pressure with some people saying he has to go now because other other lads are gone.
“I don’t feel pressure either that, ‘he has to stay because the other lads are gone’. Absolutely not. The lads, JJ, Tommy, Brian, ‘Taggy’, Davy, they made the decision that was best for them.
“I spoke to each of them and each of them is very comfortable with that decision. I would hope, when I make my decision as well, that I’ll be totally comfortable with that.”
Originally posted at 12.05am
