Shanahan all set for swansong

Waterford stars Dan Shanahan and John Mullane

Dan Shanahan has given his broadest hint yet that this will be his last season with the Waterford hurlers.

Asked yesterday if the recent Munster final was his last, the former Hurler of the Year replied: "It probably will be. It's great to finish off like that. It gets harder and harder to come back, it's a young man's game.

"It will be something else next year. It probably was my last Munster final."

The Lismore clubman admitted that he had considered retiring sooner because he wasn't starting games.

"You would. Even last weekend in the 70 minutes I wasn't on at all, and if Eoin Kelly had taken his chances I wouldn't have got any game. But I have a lot of work put in this year and I enjoy encouraging the young lads. If I have anything to offer, which I have still, I will help Waterford."

Shanahan added that Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald had coaxed him into the impact sub role.

"Of course he did, there's no-one happy sitting down. But it is hard to keep 30, 32 fellas happy. If you get your chance you have to take it and I think I took my chance the last day, the one or two chances I got.

"I think there is 70 minutes in me, depending on what position he'd play me now. I do think I have a lot of training done this year, on and off the field. But he's the manager, they make the decisions. Whether I like it or not, I will respect his decision no matter what. I might not always agree with it but he's the manager."