Relief in Kildare as Henry Shefflin to be appointed Kilkenny senior hurling manager
The outgoing Kilkenny U20 boss will replace former team-mate Derek Lyng in the position which Kildare manager Brian Dowling was among the nominations for
Henry Shefflin is set to be confirmed as the new manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team later this evening (Monday).
Shefflin along with Kildare manager Brian Dowling, Tom Mullally, Mark Dowling and Noel Doherty all put their hat in the ring for the role a number of weeks ago and subsequently received club nominations.
The Kildare manager intimated his willingness to stay with The Lilies at the end of the 2026 season and the onus is now on Kildare GAA to secure Dowling’s services for their second season in Division 1A and the Joe McDonagh Cup after confirmation of Shefflin’s appointment.
The outgoing Kilkenny U20 boss will replace former team-mate Derek Lyng in the position, becoming just the third man to take the top job in Kilkenny hurling since 1998.
A six-man selection committee, including ex-Dublin senior hurling and football boss Pat Gilroy, were tasked with selecting a suitable candidate and have now made that choice with each candidate believed to have been contacted on Monday evening.
The 10-time All-Ireland winner made his inter-county debut in 1999, playing under Brian Cody until his retirement in 2015.
During his playing career, Shefflin won three Hurler of the Year awards, 13 Leinster titles, 11 All-Star awards, and three All-Ireland Club championships with his native club Ballyhale Shamrocks.
As a manager, Shefflin guided his home club to county, provincial and All-Ireland titles in 2019 and 2020 and a further senior championship in his second stint in 2025.
The former hurler of the year also had spells with Kilkenny club Thomastown for a single season and three years with the Galway senior hurlers.