4 September 2011; Kilkenny’s Henry Shefflin is tackled by Tipperary players, from left, Gearoid Ryan, Padraic Maher, and Brendan Maher. GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, Kilkenny v Tipperary, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
On this All-Ireland Hurling Final week, we are taking a look back at some of the personal favourite pictures of our photographers from finals past. Now it’s the turn of Pat Murphy.
One of my favourite photos from an All-Ireland Hurling Final is from the 2011 All-Ireland final when Kilkenny defeated Tipperary by 2-17 to 1-16 – and Henry Shefflin won his eighth All-Ireland SHC medal.
Shefflin was back on form, after being forced off with an injury early in the 2010 final, and scored seven points in this final, so he draw a lot of attention from the Tipperary defenders.
I was sitting at the corner of the Hill 16/ Nally end for the day and when I took this Shefflin was taking on one of his menacing runs through the Tipp defence and they had to try and stop him some how.
Three players, Gearoid Ryan, Padraic Maher, and Brendan Maher, set upon tackling him. Henry was so strong that even with the trio tackling him he was able to hold his own and it shows the strength and power of one of the greatest ever hurlers.