Duignan: Shefflin and Walsh must start replay

September 12, 2014

Henry Shefflin and Kilkenny take to the field at Semple Stadium, Thurles.
©INPHO/James Crombie.

Michael Duignan believes Kilkenny should start Henry Shefflin and Tommy Walsh in their All-Ireland SHC final replay against Tipperary.

The former Offaly star and RTE pundit feels Brian Cody would be better served by throwing the two veterans - who have 16 All-Ireland medals between them - in from the start. Shefflin was introduced with only four minutes remaining in the drawn game, while Walsh didn't see any action at all.

"No disrespect to Joey Holden but he's a man-marker, I don't think he has that range of hurling that Tommy has," Duignan said at the launch of the new app GAAStars.com, which he and former Meath star Bernard Flynn have developed.

"I think Tommy would last the pace. Tipperary have six exceptional forwards, you're not going to keep them quiet. In a game like that, when it seems to be a given that John O'Dwyer or Noel McGrath is going to score three or four points from play. . . if that is a given then I'd have Tommy Walsh in the team.

"If lads are going to be putting up scores like that, with the light sliothar and the speed of the game, imagine the amount of ball he (Walsh) would get on in a loose, open game like that?Influence"I'd start both himself and Shefflin," Duignan added. "He still is such a presence and influence. If he gets a chance or two he's going to take them."

Duignan says Kilkenny could use Shefflin as Tyrone used Peter Canavan in the 2003 All-Ireland SFC final.

" The frustration that Henry has must be massive at this stage.  Remember (Peter) Canavan went off and came back on. That's not beyond the bounds of possibility," he continued.

"My feeling on the final whistle was that there was a little more room for Kilkenny to improve."


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