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| Hurling’s Henry Shefflin is an Irish delight Britain should have warmed to | Hurling’s Henry Shefflin is an Irish delight Britain should have warmed to |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Despite being separated by only 75 miles of salty Irish Sea, Ireland and Great Britain can at times seem a cultural ocean apart. For all the largely welcome uniformity of the language spoken, TV watched, music enjoyed and alarming binge-drinking statistics recorded on both islands, there remain clearly identifiable differences that extend beyond the realm of assorted national dances similar only in their silliness. | |
| While there are few aspects of British culture that remain at least untapped, if not wholeheartedly embraced, by their neighbouring Gaels, the apparent reluctance of Britons to warm to such peculiarly Irish delights as Tayto crisps, red lemonade and the musical stylings of Dublin rock gods Aslan in their early 1990s pomp remains a source of considerable mystification among us incredulous Irish. | While there are few aspects of British culture that remain at least untapped, if not wholeheartedly embraced, by their neighbouring Gaels, the apparent reluctance of Britons to warm to such peculiarly Irish delights as Tayto crisps, red lemonade and the musical stylings of Dublin rock gods Aslan in their early 1990s pomp remains a source of considerable mystification among us incredulous Irish. |
| In terms of sport, the historical exchange of assorted athletic endeavours between the islands has also been largely one-way. We’re decent at rugby and golf. We’ve tried cricket. Irish interest in football knows no bounds. Such is our obsession with the Premier League that, in Bertie Ahern, we famously boasted a prime minister who made a guest appearance on a highlights show and referred to Manchester United throughout as “we”. | In terms of sport, the historical exchange of assorted athletic endeavours between the islands has also been largely one-way. We’re decent at rugby and golf. We’ve tried cricket. Irish interest in football knows no bounds. Such is our obsession with the Premier League that, in Bertie Ahern, we famously boasted a prime minister who made a guest appearance on a highlights show and referred to Manchester United throughout as “we”. |
| Sadly, this interest in sports of British origin has not been reciprocated, with Gaelic games remaining almost universally unappreciated and unknown outside our own jurisdiction. The broadcast of numerous Gaelic football and hurling matches on Sky Sports last summer prompted a modicum of intrigue and curiosity, but little more. Hurling, in particular, prompted gasps of admiration from folk who had never before witnessed the enjoyable spectacle of two teams of 15 men armed with ash sticks get amongst each other in what is the fastest and arguably most skilful form of faction fighting in the world. | Sadly, this interest in sports of British origin has not been reciprocated, with Gaelic games remaining almost universally unappreciated and unknown outside our own jurisdiction. The broadcast of numerous Gaelic football and hurling matches on Sky Sports last summer prompted a modicum of intrigue and curiosity, but little more. Hurling, in particular, prompted gasps of admiration from folk who had never before witnessed the enjoyable spectacle of two teams of 15 men armed with ash sticks get amongst each other in what is the fastest and arguably most skilful form of faction fighting in the world. |
| Unfortunately, this ancient Irish relation of Harry Potter’s quidditch appears to have gleaned few foreign converts, if the almost negligible foreign reaction to Henry Shefflin’s recent retirement is anything to go by. In Ireland, by contrast, his not entirely surprising decision made front and back page news. | Unfortunately, this ancient Irish relation of Harry Potter’s quidditch appears to have gleaned few foreign converts, if the almost negligible foreign reaction to Henry Shefflin’s recent retirement is anything to go by. In Ireland, by contrast, his not entirely surprising decision made front and back page news. |
| Henry who? A mild-mannered colossus of the sport of hurling, Shefflin is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of his sport. Possibly any sport. There are worthy rivals for both titles, but what is beyond dispute is that King Henry is the most decorated in his own particular field. | Henry who? A mild-mannered colossus of the sport of hurling, Shefflin is considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of his sport. Possibly any sport. There are worthy rivals for both titles, but what is beyond dispute is that King Henry is the most decorated in his own particular field. |
| In a senior hurling career spanning 16 years and interrupted by four serious injuries, the 36-year-old won an unprecedented 10 All Ireland medals with County Kilkenny. On no fewer than 11 occasions, he was voted on to the All Stars, a best-of-the-best XV made up of the top 15 hurlers in their positions from squads around the country. With a career total of 27 goals and 484 points, he is the highest championship scorer of all time. | In a senior hurling career spanning 16 years and interrupted by four serious injuries, the 36-year-old won an unprecedented 10 All Ireland medals with County Kilkenny. On no fewer than 11 occasions, he was voted on to the All Stars, a best-of-the-best XV made up of the top 15 hurlers in their positions from squads around the country. With a career total of 27 goals and 484 points, he is the highest championship scorer of all time. |
| Such was the value of this scoring machine to his team that he attempted to play in the 2010 All Ireland final against Tipperary on one leg, having torn his cruciate ligament just a few weeks previously. Forced to hoist the white flag and withdraw from battle after just 13 minutes, his absence made it one of those rare occasions when the mighty Kilkenny left Croke Park empty-handed on the back of something resembling a hiding. | Such was the value of this scoring machine to his team that he attempted to play in the 2010 All Ireland final against Tipperary on one leg, having torn his cruciate ligament just a few weeks previously. Forced to hoist the white flag and withdraw from battle after just 13 minutes, his absence made it one of those rare occasions when the mighty Kilkenny left Croke Park empty-handed on the back of something resembling a hiding. |
| While Shefflin’s retirement from inter-county hurling may well have been greeted by the popping of champagne corks in rival dressing rooms nationwide, domestic tributes paid to this modest model of integrity with an apparent ability to bend tight contests to his will have been extraordinary. His longtime Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, a thoughtful and occasionally curmudgeonly man not renowned for his effusiveness, has rarely been more fulsome. “It’s been phenomenal what you’ve achieved,” he told Shefflin. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done and the way you’ve conducted yourself. You’ve got the very best out of yourself.” | While Shefflin’s retirement from inter-county hurling may well have been greeted by the popping of champagne corks in rival dressing rooms nationwide, domestic tributes paid to this modest model of integrity with an apparent ability to bend tight contests to his will have been extraordinary. His longtime Kilkenny manager Brian Cody, a thoughtful and occasionally curmudgeonly man not renowned for his effusiveness, has rarely been more fulsome. “It’s been phenomenal what you’ve achieved,” he told Shefflin. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done and the way you’ve conducted yourself. You’ve got the very best out of yourself.” |
| Cody nailed it, for it is difficult to imagine what, if anything, his charge could have done to extract anything more from his remarkable talent for the game he mastered, an amateur sport played to professional standards by farmers, schoolteachers, carpenters, electricians and – in the case of Shefflin – bank officials in their spare time. In a field of endeavour where, almost without exception, participants represent the county from which they hail, Shefflin was at least lucky enough to roll off the production line of gifted hurlers that can be found in Kilkenny. Plenty of other players have toiled as long and hard only to be consistently thwarted in their quest for the reward of silverware by little more than geography. | Cody nailed it, for it is difficult to imagine what, if anything, his charge could have done to extract anything more from his remarkable talent for the game he mastered, an amateur sport played to professional standards by farmers, schoolteachers, carpenters, electricians and – in the case of Shefflin – bank officials in their spare time. In a field of endeavour where, almost without exception, participants represent the county from which they hail, Shefflin was at least lucky enough to roll off the production line of gifted hurlers that can be found in Kilkenny. Plenty of other players have toiled as long and hard only to be consistently thwarted in their quest for the reward of silverware by little more than geography. |
| In a Q&A with an English newspaper before the 2013 Lions Tour, Brian O’Driscoll was asked if he thought he was the most successful sportsman ever to come out of Ireland. While modesty precluded him from agreeing that, yes, of course he was, his answer was heartwarming and telling. “That would be the hurler Henry Shefflin,” he said, before patiently explaining what a hurler is and why Shefflin was such a good one to his British audience. | |
| As prolific, talented, dogged and determined on the field as he is quiet, unassuming and humble off of it, you could perhaps liken him to Lionel Messi ... except without the wealth or global recognition. Henry won’t care, but after 16 years at the top of his chosen field it seems a shame such explanatory comparisons remain necessary. | As prolific, talented, dogged and determined on the field as he is quiet, unassuming and humble off of it, you could perhaps liken him to Lionel Messi ... except without the wealth or global recognition. Henry won’t care, but after 16 years at the top of his chosen field it seems a shame such explanatory comparisons remain necessary. |