“He was a tough cookie, but a gentleman.”
On a day were so many were numb, raw, and still coming to terms with another tragedy, some fine words spoken by Brian Cody, Davy Fitzgerald, Damian Lawlor and Jackie Tyrrell.
It was hard, hard going for many asked to line out at represent their clubs and counties today as the GAA community mourned the tragic passing a man that poured so much of himself into the game.
On Friday afternoon, former Kilkenny minor captain and three-time club All-Ireland winner Paul Shefflin died suddenly, leaving behind a grief-stricken family that includes his four children. Brother to Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin, Paul Shefflin as served as a coach, hurley carrier and club treasurer at Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Most in GAA only discovered the news today, as they were on their way or making plans to watch Allianz League games. Ahead of Kilkenny’s game against Dublin, at Parnell Park, there was a moment of silence in memory of Paul Shefflin.
Kilkenny players stand for a moments silence in memory of the late Paul Shefflin, of Shamrocks GAA Club. (Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile)Davy Fitzgerald and Jackie Tyrrell pay tribute
Ahead of their double-header of league hurling action, RTÉ host Damian Lawlor paid tribute to Paul Shefflin and got the reactions of two hurling legends – Davy Fitzgerald and former Kilkenny defender Jackie Tyrrell.
“When the news trickled through, yesterday,” said Tyrrell, “you were just asking yourself why.
“All the things you alluded to – a great clubman, a family man. Possibly because of Henry’s success, his achievements may have been overshadowed. But you look at his list there – three club All-Irelands, a real great clubman, a coach and a treasurer there. I played against Paul a few times. A tough cookie, but a gentleman off the hurling field. It’s such a sad, sad day for a community like Ballyhale that have had a lot of tragedies, down through the years.”
Fitzgerald spoke next and his poignant words really captured what so many will be feeling about the passing of a man with so much that should have still lay ahead.
“That’s what the GAA brings. It will bring support, and it is badly needed.
“Listen, hurling’s a great game, but it’s not everything. Just from all of us, our sympathies are with the Shefflin family. It’s tragic. We’ll play a game of hurling here [in Cork] later on, and it will be grand, but, at the same time, our thoughts are with them. That’s the most important thing. To all their family, our hearts go out to them.”
“A really, really sad time for Ballyhale, the whole of Kilkenny and all hurling people everywhere,” said Cats boss Brian Cody.
“The Shefflin name is synonymous with hurling, and Paul was a terrific hurler himself, and obviously a very popular figure around the whole place.”
"A really, really sad time for Ballyhale, the whole of Kilkenny and all hurling people everywhere."
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody on the passing of Paul Shefflin.#RTEgaa pic.twitter.com/Lcvv9QDJ8p— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 5, 2022
Henry Shefflin was due to manage Galway against Cork, this evening, but he is back with his family as they, and the local community back home, come to terms with another tragic passing.
