Ex-top Cat could be a head Sheff

HENRY SHEFFLIN may well be a Kilkenny manager in waiting, says Michael Fennelly.

The 10-time All-ireland winner has just taken the reins of Ballyhale Shamrocks’ senior team and Fennelly, who is his captain, admits he was surprised that the 39-year-old went into management so swiftly.

“I was because he’d just finished up last year, but he’s good people around him, his brother, who managed us before, Richie O’neill, former Kilkenny goalkeeper who was with the 21s last year,” said Fennelly.

“We’d only one game and we won’t play again until August and it’s a bit of a disaster to manage that, to keep players interested and not to overdo it. He seems to be enjoying the role.

“Obviously I know Henry very well and I’m captain of the team so I can relate and talk to him, give information on what’s going on in the dressing room because when you become a manager you are cut off from the players to a degree.”

As for the prospect of Shefflin taking over from Brian Cody whenever his lengthy reign comes to an end, Fennelly added: “I’d say he’d maybe be pushed that way, whether he doesn’t want to, but he has five kids as well, a big family, it’s a huge job in itself, he works up in Dublin two or three times a week.

“He’s a lot going on so I think the club scene suits at the moment. But county-wise, he is ambitious, he loves hurling, loves the goal and challenge of it, so I’d say he will end up doing something but he’s a busy man as it is.”