Henry Shefflin has been appointed manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team after a meeting of the county board this evening.
Shefflin, who won 10 All-Irelands as a player, has been appointed after serving as the county’s Under-20 manager this year.
The Cats failed to emerge from the Leinster round-robin this summer for the first time since its introduction. It meant no place in the All-Ireland championship for the first time since 1996.
The run, which included defeats to Galway and Dublin, and a draw with Offaly, led to the departure of Derek Lyng early last month.
Shefflin previously managed Galway for three seasons off the back of guiding his club, Ballyhale Shamrocks, to All-Ireland glory in 2019 and 2020.
He stepped down from the Tribesmen following the conclusion of the 2024 championship, in which the westerners finished fourth in the province.
Shefflin’s appointment brings together the game’s most successful county and one of their greatest ever players as they look to return to hurling’s top table, having gone 11 years without lifting Liam MacCarthy.
It’s their longest spell without winning the game’s biggest prize, having twice gone a decade between All-Ireland successes.
Shefflin’s last championship game for Kilkenny came in 2014, 15 years after his senior debut, with the Cats having been utterly dominant during his career under the management of Brian Cody.
“On behalf of Kilkenny GAA, I am delighted to welcome Henry Shefflin as our Senior Hurling Manager,” Kilkenny GAA chairperson PJ Kenny said.
“Henry has an outstanding record of achievement and leadership, and we are confident he will bring tremendous experience, ambition and professionalism to the role.
“I would also like to acknowledge and thank every candidate who put themselves forward. The calibre of applicants reflected the esteem in which Kilkenny hurling is held, and we were struck throughout the process by the commitment each candidate demonstrated to serving Kilkenny GAA.
“We wish Henry every success as he takes up this important role.”