SHEFFLIN FAMILY TRAGEDY

KILKENNY hurling was in mourning yesterday at the sudden passing of Paul Shefflin, younger brother of county legend Henry.

The 40-year-old father of four passed away on Friday afternoon after suddenly taking ill, leaving his local Ballyhale Shamrocks club, with whom he won three AllIreland medals, stunned.

A former Kilkenny minor captain, he also won a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with WIT in 1998, playing alongside his brother Henry, who had been due to take charge of Galway in last night’s Allianz League clash with Cork.

Kilkenny manager Brian Cody admitted that the county had been left stunned by the former Ballyhale player’s passing.

‘It is a really, really sad time for Ballyhale, the whole of Kilkenny and obviously all hurling people everywhere.

“The Shefflin family are synonymous with the game and Paul was a terrific hurler himself and obviously a very popular figure.’