cuchullain.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 26/01/2014 21:54:09    1537059

Shefflin. Kilkenny would have beat Tipp in 2010 if he had been fit, they would have beaten Cork last year. For me, this shows his influence on how Kilkenny hurl, and without him, the look very average as he makes them tick.

And he's back today and if fit for the year, they will not be beaten.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 26/01/2014 22:00:01    1537064

yeah Shefflin all the way , there is no point talking about any1 else no1 comes near

73southman (Limerick) - Posts: 394 - 27/01/2014 10:09:16    1537102

Henry Shefflin.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 27/01/2014 10:13:14    1537106

Didn't Brian O'Driscoll describe Henry as the greatest Irish athlete ever

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 27/01/2014 10:22:27    1537114

In the modern era then Shefflin yes, but in their day Nicky English and Brian Whelahan were a joy to watch in different ways.

A very subjective question depending on your age and exposure to other hurlers.

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 27/01/2014 11:18:31    1537152

I think the Headline in Hogan Stand really sums Henry "The Media Darling" Shefflin up.

"Shefflin inspires Cats on comeback"

FFS he scored 12 Points from frees & 1 yes 1 Point From Play!!!!!!!

Same with the Drawn All Ireland Final v Galway. Some media "Experts" spouting on that it was one of the best performance's ever given in an All Ireland Final??? Again what did he score from play in that game........1 yes 1 Point!!!

Anyone who has ever played the game, knows the skills of Hurling & knows the thrill of hitting the back of the net will agree that DJ is the greatest Hurler of the Modern era. He carried an average Kilkenny Team on his back & pulled many a game out of the fire for Kilkenny.

When the chips were down for Kilkenny when did Henry ever get the ball, burst past several defenders & stick the ball in the roof of the net...............never!!

Henrys the ordinary Mans favourite because you can look at him & say if I work hard & practice I could be as good as him.

With DJ you looked at him & you knew that no matter how hard or long you trained for you were never going to be able to the things he could do with a Sliotar.

Dessie13 (Dublin) - Posts: 70 - 27/01/2014 11:50:18    1537175

Nicky Rackard changed Wexford from a predominately football county to All Ireland Hurling Champions in 1956. In the 1954 semi final he scored 7-7. He has to be considered

cavan97 (Cavan) - Posts: 369 - 27/01/2014 11:52:54    1537178

I'm sorry dessie 13. Shefflin turned all Ireland 2 years ago on its head. Without him Galway would be champs. He was missing in 10 and what happened. I know who i would back to change a game on his own. Dj not fit to lace his boots. When did Henry ever grab a ball when it was needed? Almost always. The man has the heart of a lion

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 27/01/2014 12:28:11    1537197

well said bricktop, I'd have to throw DJ in there.... some days he was poetry in motion... a joy watch along with the other 2 and of course Henry as well.

freddy2 (Wexford) - Posts: 215 - 27/01/2014 12:49:16    1537218

Hav to say dj ...was explosive and so exciting to watch

curnew (Wicklow) - Posts: 449 - 27/01/2014 13:02:40    1537224

Dessie

Way to dismiss scoring 13 points in an All-Ireland final..look at other statistics, how many of them was he fouled for, how many scores did he set up? DJ didn't carry any ordinary KK team on his back. There are no ordinary KK teams. Fair enough if you think that DJ was better. You are entitled to that opinion. However, to dismiss Henry Shefflin (9 time All-Ireland winner) as a media concoction or a glorified free-taker is disingenuous in the extreme.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 27/01/2014 13:12:07    1537236

Jimmy Smyth deserves a mention.

Scored 6-4 against Limerick in the Munster Championship in 1953.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2480 - 27/01/2014 13:25:41    1537251

I don't think there ever was or will ever be the greatest hurler of all time. Unless there comes a time and age when a player will arise to be the complete performer.

We cant just base the greatest hurlers on scoring for example there was many a back line which had hero's in it down through the decades.

It is great to see some of the choices been mentioned will always make for a great debate!!!

We rarely see a player who wins hurler of the year win for 2 r possibly 3 times in a row for example.

As hurling is a team sport and the game evolves to new heights with skill and physicality its hard to see what the past hurlers could do in todays game and vice versa what the players of today could offer in the past games gone by.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 27/01/2014 13:27:19    1537253

bennybunny

I not dismissing Shefflin as a great Hurler. Of course he's a great Hurler I just don't think he's anywhere near being the best Hurler ever.

I think the media blow up everything he does, ordinary enough things are blow up into genius or the best ever.

I guess people judge Hurlers in different ways.

I judge the greatest by how talented & skillfull they are/where & how good they were at their very best.

DJ's very best was/is better than Shefflins very best!!

Anyone that has seen both of them play Club Hurling, would have to agree that DJ was the best.

Some of his displays for Young Irelands were nothing short of Roy of the Rovers stuff.

I remember one day down in Nowlan Park in the KK Club Championship, it was like God had transplanted him there for the day as a gift to everyone who was present.

When I think of DJ the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. He was electric & had the capacity that no one since Ring has had to get a crowd on its feet.

And always remember how selfless he was as a team player. He let a young a Shefflin take over the frees to boost his confidence & make him feel more involved. He could have been selfish and demanded that he be the free taker. What effect would that have on each of their scoring stats??

Dessie13 (Dublin) - Posts: 70 - 27/01/2014 13:53:25    1537269

disillusiondfan
County: Limerick
Posts: 1515

1537197
I'm sorry dessie 13. Shefflin turned all Ireland 2 years ago on its head. Without him Galway would be champs. He was missing in 10 and what happened.
Was just about to point out the same.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 27/01/2014 14:03:35    1537279

Pinkie
County: Wexford
Posts: 2855

disillusiondfan
County: Limerick
Posts: 1515

1537197
I'm sorry dessie 13. Shefflin turned all Ireland 2 years ago on its head. Without him Galway would be champs. He was missing in 10 and what happened.
Was just about to point out the same.

Sur Tipp had the game won by the time Shefflin left the field in 2010!!!!!! They were never gonna win the 5 in a row!!!

And actually just to point out in 2012 Shefflin opted for a point from the penalty. That could have cost Kilkenny as Canning missed an easy free and then popped over the difficult one. It it had swung that way the greatest media meltdown in history would have happened!!

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 27/01/2014 14:18:14    1537296

disillusiondfan
County: Limerick
Posts: 1515

1537197
I'm sorry dessie 13. Shefflin turned all Ireland 2 years ago on its head. Without him Galway would be champs. He was missing in 10 and what happened.
Was just about to point out the same.

Ha Ha, you've been reading to many papers!!

Can you name even 1 outstanding piece of play where he turned the game on its head.

Just because he was the only KK Forward who played half decent doesn't mean his performance was outstanding.
He missed 2 shots at the end to win the game for KK aswell.

The only outstanding, turn a game on its head moment of that game was Joe Cannings goal.

Just aswell Henry didn't score a goal like that, we'd still be hearing about it.
Fact is Henry doesn't have the ability to score a goal like that!!

Dessie13 (Dublin) - Posts: 70 - 27/01/2014 14:22:25    1537299

s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 2576

1537059 cuchullain.

A Wee County Legend.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 27/01/2014 14:34:51    1537310

Dessie his move to centre forward changed that game. He is I'm my opinion most consistent most determined hurler I have ever seen. Opinions are really all this is about and I agree at times media can mislead public ( all the current hype about Clare being a case in point but shefflin is the real deal. Think he has won 3 hurler of year awards to boot. Dj was darling of media himself and was a fine player but if there was a transfer market n jp could buy anyone ever would be Henry every time for me

disillusiondfan (Limerick) - Posts: 4279 - 27/01/2014 14:36:39    1537311