Brennan: Shefflin one of world's best sports stars

Henry Shefflin is among the world's top sports stars, according to former Kilkenny team-mate Eddie Brennan.

The 36-year-old looks set to confirm his retirement from the inter-county scene at a press conference later today.

The Ballyhale Shamrocks man will bow out with an incredible 10 All-Ireland titles and 11 All Stars, as well as three Hurler of the Year awards.

"There's a special place for Henry Shefflin"

And former team-mate Brennan, who retired in 2011 with eight Liam MacCarthy wins to his name, told RTÉ Sport it was "the end of an era".

"I think he's right up there [with the top world sports stars] simply because a big player, the best player will deliver when the stakes are the highest and expectation is at the greatest, when a match is there to be won and Henry has done that so many times," said Brennan, now an RTÉ Sport analyst.

"There's a special place for Henry Shefflin. For me I was lucky enough to share a dressing room with many of these great players [such as recently retired Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney] but Henry stood out for a simple reason.

"And I don't mean this as a slight, he mightn't have been the most naturally gifted hurler that was there but he was undoubtedly the most dedicated, hard-working player I've ever comes across.

"He stops at nothing to be the best."

Shefflin To Make Decision

Brennan recalled a particular moment from Shefflin's illustrious career, when Kilkenny needed a goal against Tipperary late on in the 2009 All-Ireland final.

"The one occasion that really springs to mind for me is the 2009 All-Ireland when we got the penalty," said Brennan.

"I was close enough to him and I recall him saying, 'What am I going to do?' 'I'm glad it's you that's going to have to do it and not me,' I said in my own head because I didn't fancy it.

"I think Henry relished that, he loved being in the pressure situations where something like that was expected of him. That day he stepped up to that penalty knowing nothing less than a goal was needed. And he had the backbone to take that on and he done that so many times.

"He wasn't a huge speaker but he always led by his actions on the pitch. It will be certainly the end of an era."

For more listen to Game On, weeknights from 7pm on 2fm

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Brennan: Shefflin one of world's best sports stars

Dengan url

http://olahragaenjoy.blogspot.com/2015/03/brennan-shefflin-one-of-worlds-best.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Brennan: Shefflin one of world's best sports stars

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Brennan: Shefflin one of world's best sports stars

sebagai sumbernya

Olahraga Enjoy