Kilkenny ace Henry Shefflin is confident that the Cats can emerge from the hype this week that is sure to surround this Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final against Waterford. The All Star attacker has cited Waterford as a formidable outfit over the last few years and believes that his side will need to be fully-focused if they are to overcome the Deise challenge this Sunday at Croke Park. "Waterford have been thereabouts so much and have just been very unlucky, it has been a hard-luck story for them for the last few years. But it was only a matter of time before they got there. "No one is surprised to see them in an All-Ireland final, everyone knew they were good enough to be there and that's where they're at now." As they face their neighbours for the first time in an All-Ireland SHC final for the first time in well over half-a-century, Shefflin admits that the excitement will be huge around Kilkenny, with a three-in-a-row title bid adding extra spice, but has pointed out that it's just a game the same as any other to him. "The hype down around south Kilkenny is going to be intense, there's going to be plenty of slagging. "With an All-Ireland anyway there is going to be hype but it will be fairly high this year. "At the end of the day it's Kilkenny against Waterford, so is there any difference?" "You might be playing the same team you played in the League. It's a different time of the year but the same principals apply. You score more than the other team, and you win. "There's a bit more hype alright, but that's all." Tweet

Most Read Stories