WHEN DAN SHANAHAN got the word to draw him back into the inter-county senior game, he faced a dilemma.
New Waterford boss Peter Queally was assembling his new management team and wanted Shanahan to return to a role he has filled alongside Derek McGrath until they departed in the summer of 2018.
Taking on this position meant Shanahan need to cut a link.
โI was with Ken McGrath in the U20s. What a man, I really enjoyed the setup last year with Ken.
โPeter came to me (and) the hardest phone call I had to make was to Ken McGrath. He understood straight away. What a man. He understood โ โDan, I know where youโre coming from, youโre with the elite player in Waterford and to train the elite.โ
โThe one thing for me, the common denominator, weโre all good Waterford people for one aim. Weโre all trying to improve Waterford hurling, whether itโs James OโConnor with the minors, Ken McGrath with the twenties, Peter Queally with the seniors. Weโre all here for the one goal is to improve Waterford hurling.โ
Shanahan is pleased that a local is at the helm of the prime job in Waterford hurling. He has huge respect for what Davy Fitzgerald and Liam Cahill have done, he is keen to stress his view is not a dig at either, but a homegrown influence was something he felt was required.
โI think itโs a big thing when a Waterford man is in charge of a Waterford team. Itโs very important.
โYou see it in Cork, Pat Ryan in Cork, Brian Lohanโs in Clare, Liam Cahillโs in Tipp, the Dublin manager, Niall ร Ceallachรกin, again heโs from Dublin, Micheรกl Donoghue is gone back to Galway, Keith Rossiter is in Wexford, Derek Lyngโs in Kilkenny. All their own men in charge. I think thatโs massive that we got a Waterford man in charge.
โFor me, a Waterford man in charge of a Waterford team, it gets more people out supporting the team, first of all, that maybe havenโt been supporting the team. It is our job to get the people supporting our team, as well, playing proper, fast hurling, with proper tactical plans and whatever we come up with. Just to get the enjoyment back in the Waterford lads.โ
Renewing the connection with supporters is key. Waterfordโs form has faltered in recent times as they have struggled to embrace and emerge from the Munster round-robin format.
โResults donโt lie. We havenโt come out of the Munster round-robin in a number of years when Liam or Davy was there. That hurts me.
โGreat win against Cork this year below in Walsh Park, but it is no good winning [on one-off occasions], it is a moral victory, clapped on the back, next thing we donโt come out of the group.โ
Maintaining the improvement in their home record is a core aim. This year saw signs of promise with the victory over Cork and draw with Tipperary, albeit they coughed up a winning position there.
They take on Clare next April before entertaining Limerick a week later.
โOur first goal is the Clare game at home [in Munster]. The All-Ireland champions are coming to Walsh Park, it should be hopping. A fortress. The doors should be shut down the minute they come on the bus. Make it as hard as possible for them.
โI am looking forward to the challenge. It is going to be a massive challenge. I could have sat down at home, relaxed for the year without doing this, and sat in the local criticising. No, I took it on the chin.
โA lot of people have their opinions. If we play poorly, you have to take the criticism. If we play well, you have to take the claps on the back. I have done it as a player. I have done it as a coach with Derek. Please God I am going to do it as a coach with Peter.โ
Before the main inter-county business commences for Waterford, they begin 2025 with a game of major significance.
Waterford play Cork on Saturday 4 January in the Fraher Field in Dungarvan as a fundraiser for 2002 Deise Munster winner Brian Greene, who has been treated for lung cancer since his diagnosis in April 2022.
โHad the honour of playing, togging out with him,โ recalls Shanahan.
โI went in, in โ96 I started, so would have known Brian fairly well. I played number ten, he played number seven, so we were always on each other and Greener had some aggression, some player, some speed. What a man, what a great club man.
โIt is tough news. But it has touched every family, thereโs not a family here that hasnโt been hit by some relation to cancer or something like that. I think the GAA is unbelievable like that. I think the support it does for people is phenomenal, long may it last. Weโd do the same thing if there was a lad in Cork in the same boat.
โThe 4th of January is a great time, because thereโs nothing on. People have nothing to do, so please God the weather would be good. Itโs in Fraher Field which I think is beneficial for, for the East Cork people, West Waterford people, and even now for Brian Greene, East Waterford will come to Fraher Field to support him.โ
Some Irish transfer news:
Juventus prepared to make an offer for Kelleher
Man Utd linked with Ferguson
Dara OโShea to have Brentford medical
@ashton oriordan: what do you know??
@ashton oriordan: ya heard about Kelly her and fergieโs moves, dinna know about o sรฉ though
@WqM9AAv3: O Shea linked with Celtic as well.
Szmodics linked with Ipswich, think that might happen.
Ferguson better off not going to Utd, stay where he is for another season at least.
How are they getting away with this and the ffp. I thought this loophole of long contracts was finished
@anthony davoren: selling lots of players too so all in order for now
Not sure they need him. Donโt see him starting for them
@Emmet: Donโt see him fullstop
7 years for the love of st Peter. The guy is injured half the time. Plus heโs at his best on a counter attacking team. Canโt see Chelseaโs style suiting him.
Discusting do they want to buy every player are what pedro is a very good player do might be there best singing in years
@Square: ya heโs a brilliant singer. They call him the karaoke kid back in his hometown in Portugal singing in Portuguese. Not sure whether he will be as good singing in England though Square
@Square: Have you had a few Square?
@Bert Carolan: not had any in 7 years i think what i said is very fair he allways scares me playing against liverpool
@Bert Carolan: that jed guy has 24 7
@Square: ah Jazus square 7 years ya only a baba.. ya close with 24 though for me