Michael Fennelly predicts King Henry will manage Kilkenny in the future

MICHAEL Fennelly has tipped Henry Shefflin to lead Kilkenny in the future after the new Ballyhale coach steered his beloved club to a ninth provincial title.

Speaking after his acceptance speech following Ballyhale’s comprehensive defeat of Dublin’s Ballyboden St Enda’s, Fennelly praised Henry Shefflin’s leadership and predicted he will manage of Kilkenny at some point in the future.

“Without a doubt,” said Fennelly. “I’d say he has his eyes on that, even in the back of his mind maybe. It’s his first year and he has a Leinster final medal which is huge. I’ve no doubt he’d love to be playing out here.

“Even after the county final he looked a bit disappointed in terms of after the game, talking to a journalist. He would have loved to be playing. He’s probably not too far off it only for his knee really. But look, he’s on the sideline for us and that’s just as important. He’s a huge asset to the club.

“As a player, he brought leadership and he’s brought leadership again [as manager]. He’s passionate, he knows hurling and he knows it well. He’s a driver, he pulls us all together I think, he speaks very well. He has a genetic leadership ability. He always had that and he’s bringing that to management now. I’ve no doubt we’ll see him in a couple of years at inter-county level.”

‘King Henry’s’ first venture into management has gone extraordinarily well.

He dismantled the 2015 All-Ireland winning side and brought through a number of talented youngsters including Brian Cody, Eoin Cody, Eoin Reid and Adrian Mullen.

Ballyhale weren’t even widely expected to emerge from Kilkenny, but after two big wins in Leinster the Shamrocks are now only two games away from being crowned All-Ireland Senior Hurling Club Champions.

Next up is a mouth-watering semi-final clash against Waterford’s Ballygunner in the New Year.