“We had an annihilation above in Ennis too before the Kilkenny game, so it was tough to take. Last year we had a lot of injuries. Maybe we weren’t fit enough, but I did feel that it would turn.
“They’re fantastic lads. You can just fold up and walk away or you stick with it. We made a few switches for 2015 and they seem to be working, that’s no disrespect to the lads not involved, who knows they might be involved next year.
“It can turn very quick. Wexford had a massive year —but if you have a great year one year, the pressure is on the second year to perform. Second-year syndrome. We got relegated in 2014 so we were coming from a place with no pressure.
“We got a great start to the league, a draw above in Limerick, and that put a bit of belief in the players more than us.”
Waterford captain Kevin Moran and selector Dan Shanahan. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
2. Derek McGrath’s influence
“Did I believe in Derek McGrath and his thing? Of course I did. I know what the man is about, I know what he did with colleges and it’s a fair step up, but he’s very intelligent.
“He puts 120% into everything and I’m just delighted he’s getting the luck this year because last year he didn’t.
“He won’t tell you that but he’s done something for every fella on the panel, whether it’s injury-wise or getting them to go see a doctor, or help for a lad to get a job interview. He’s phenomenal.”
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Dan Shanahan and Derek McGrath celebrate Waterford's Munster semi-final win over Kerry Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
3. Flak and criticism in modern hurling
“I didn’t enjoy the results last year, some of the flak I got and some of the flak players get. It’s nearly a bit tougher now.
“I can assure you, they’ll all clap you on the back for the good days. When you’ve bad days, they’ll star talking about you, but that’s sport.
“Look at Tiger Woods, one of the best golfers on tour in the world, it happens to every fella where you go though bad patches. You stick with it, our lads have stuck with us and they’ve believed is us and us in them.”
Waterford players defending a late free against Dublin Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
4. All-action Dan on the sideline
“My job as a Maor Foirne is to get the message out to the lads and to see that I’m fully focused on my job on the line. Sometimes I’d be jumping around the place, getting involved in the play, but that’s just because I want our lads to get the ball.
“I could sit down on the bench beside Derek but there’d be no point, it wouldn’t be me. I leave that technical stuff to Derek and I release the passion because I just want Waterford to win.
“If the players see I’m not doing my job, they won’t do their job and that’s why I train, you have to be fit on the line.
“I play club hurling and lads have to see that, that I put in the effort at 38 years of age. Just to get the boys up and they’re a fantastic bunch.
“I did go down to the Cork supporters on one of the days and I did get fair abuse off the Cork fans. But at the end of the day I’m only doing my job for Waterford.”
Dan Shanahan during the Munster final Morgan Treacy / INPHO
Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO
5. The Kilkenny rivalry
“I’ve utmost respect for that Kilkenny backroom team and Brian Cody for what they’ve achieved over the last decade, it’s phenomenal.
“Where I come from in the west, Cork are the rivals, here in the east it was always Kilkenny, in the city it was Kilkenny. Cork let you play hurling and Kilkenny do but they bring a lot more aggression to the tackle.
“We’re in a semi-final, against the best team in the country, so we’ll work hard and hopefully get the luck.”
Kilkenny manager Brian Cody Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
6. Getting used to Waterford’s current style of play
“It took convincing from Derek. Back in my time it was off the cuff and you go out, win your own battle, and play a bit of freedom hurling.
“The way the game has gone now, we were probably conceding too many goals and we had to do something to stop that. It has worked and some people are saying we’re playing Donegal-type hurling, we’re not — the so-called experts are yet to see that.
“We’re just working hard in our positions – if we see a fella in trouble, our aim is for a forward to chase back and get a hook in. Eoin Larkin is doing it for years and people are saying Kilkenny have no system.”
Dan Shanahan in action against the Kilkenny defence in a league game in 2009 Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
All-action Dan on the sideline, Waterford passion and phenomenal Derek McGrath
1. Recovering from the disappointments of 2014
“We had an annihilation above in Ennis too before the Kilkenny game, so it was tough to take. Last year we had a lot of injuries. Maybe we weren’t fit enough, but I did feel that it would turn.
“They’re fantastic lads. You can just fold up and walk away or you stick with it. We made a few switches for 2015 and they seem to be working, that’s no disrespect to the lads not involved, who knows they might be involved next year.
“It can turn very quick. Wexford had a massive year —but if you have a great year one year, the pressure is on the second year to perform. Second-year syndrome. We got relegated in 2014 so we were coming from a place with no pressure.
“We got a great start to the league, a draw above in Limerick, and that put a bit of belief in the players more than us.”
2. Derek McGrath’s influence
“Did I believe in Derek McGrath and his thing? Of course I did. I know what the man is about, I know what he did with colleges and it’s a fair step up, but he’s very intelligent.
“He puts 120% into everything and I’m just delighted he’s getting the luck this year because last year he didn’t.
“He won’t tell you that but he’s done something for every fella on the panel, whether it’s injury-wise or getting them to go see a doctor, or help for a lad to get a job interview. He’s phenomenal.”
3. Flak and criticism in modern hurling
“I didn’t enjoy the results last year, some of the flak I got and some of the flak players get. It’s nearly a bit tougher now.
“I can assure you, they’ll all clap you on the back for the good days. When you’ve bad days, they’ll star talking about you, but that’s sport.
“Look at Tiger Woods, one of the best golfers on tour in the world, it happens to every fella where you go though bad patches. You stick with it, our lads have stuck with us and they’ve believed is us and us in them.”
4. All-action Dan on the sideline
“My job as a Maor Foirne is to get the message out to the lads and to see that I’m fully focused on my job on the line. Sometimes I’d be jumping around the place, getting involved in the play, but that’s just because I want our lads to get the ball.
“I could sit down on the bench beside Derek but there’d be no point, it wouldn’t be me. I leave that technical stuff to Derek and I release the passion because I just want Waterford to win.
“If the players see I’m not doing my job, they won’t do their job and that’s why I train, you have to be fit on the line.
“I play club hurling and lads have to see that, that I put in the effort at 38 years of age. Just to get the boys up and they’re a fantastic bunch.
“I did go down to the Cork supporters on one of the days and I did get fair abuse off the Cork fans. But at the end of the day I’m only doing my job for Waterford.”
5. The Kilkenny rivalry
“I’ve utmost respect for that Kilkenny backroom team and Brian Cody for what they’ve achieved over the last decade, it’s phenomenal.
“Where I come from in the west, Cork are the rivals, here in the east it was always Kilkenny, in the city it was Kilkenny. Cork let you play hurling and Kilkenny do but they bring a lot more aggression to the tackle.
“We’re in a semi-final, against the best team in the country, so we’ll work hard and hopefully get the luck.”
6. Getting used to Waterford’s current style of play
“It took convincing from Derek. Back in my time it was off the cuff and you go out, win your own battle, and play a bit of freedom hurling.
“The way the game has gone now, we were probably conceding too many goals and we had to do something to stop that. It has worked and some people are saying we’re playing Donegal-type hurling, we’re not — the so-called experts are yet to see that.
“We’re just working hard in our positions – if we see a fella in trouble, our aim is for a forward to chase back and get a hook in. Eoin Larkin is doing it for years and people are saying Kilkenny have no system.”
‘It’s a privilege to be hurling in this team, it’s an honour to be playing with these lads’
Brendan Cummins: Waterford conundrum, Kilkenny scoring power and Poc Fada glory
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COMP:ALL-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Dan Shanahan Deise Hero GAA Waterford