Former Tipperary All-Ireland winner John Leahy believes that the cruciate ligament injury suffered by Henry Shefflin will play as an advantage to Kilkenny for next month's final.

Cats boss Brian Cody admitted after his side's semi-final win over Cork that it would take a miracle for his star player to recover in time for the Croke Park clash with Tipp, and Leahy agrees.

"I genuinely don't feel that Henry has a chance," Leahy told the Irish Daily Star.

"I did my own cruciates. I was out with one for nearly 18 months and the other for nine months as well.

"I do think that to take the attention off the team is great - to keep the attention on Henry. And I think it'll be good to take the media off the five-in-a-row. Coming up to the All-Ireland, I suppose they don't ever name the team until the Friday night so we'll still have the attention up 'til Friday night on Henry.

"It is definitely going to be to Kilkenny's advantage," he added.

Kilkenny legend DJ Carey also believes that if Shefflin were unable to line-out on September 5 that it would act as extra motivation for the Cats.

"From a loss point of view, on the field, he is absolutely massive. But I also think he will be a huge motivation to the rest of the team if he is missing," said Carey. Tweet

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