Terence 'Sambo' McNaughton says Kilkenny are well equipped to cope with their recent spate of retirements.

Yesterday, Aidan Fogarty and Brian Hogan followed Tommy Walsh and David Herity into inter-county retirement, while it's widely expected that Henry Shefflin will also call it a day once Ballyhale's club championship campaign ends.

"If you're asking can Kilkenny afford to lose the likes of that and still stay at the top, then I'd have to say: 'Yes they can'," Antrim legend McNaughton said in the Irish News.

"Look at their minor team that won the All-Ireland this year. The kid (John Walsh) that done all the scoring never played in the provincial championship and then he goes out and scores 2-5 from play in the final and wins them the All-Ireland on his own.

"It's a hard county to try and judge because of the strength in depth they have, but I am sure if any of these lads were playing for any other county, then they'd still be playing. With their success, those boys can ride off into the sunset and be proud of everything they achieved."

He added: "Shefflin won't want to announce anything that gets in the road of his club, but I would bet my life on it that he'll be the next to go as soon as Ballyhale finish their club campaign."

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