WATERFORD’S MARQUEE FORWARD Maurice Shanahan says the Munster side absolutely believe they can shock Kilkenny in a couple of weeks’ time.
Derek McGrath’s side saw off Dublin in Thurles on Sunday and now face the All-Ireland champions at Croke Park.
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“This Waterford team definitely believes,” the Lismore man says. “But Kilkenny are there. They’re the best team around. Tipperary aren’t far off them, but Kilkenny have the All-Ireland and it’s up to us to get up there.
“Yeah, we will believe. Whether that’s good enough on the day, we’ll see, but we’ll give them one hell of a battle.”
The Déise faced Ger Cunningham’s Dubs having lost the Munster final to the Premier last time out. Shanahan admits it took some getting over before they prepared for the quarter final last weekend.
“Yeah, it was hard,” he told reporters afterwards. “Because our U-21s went out on Wednesday night and lost as well. That was as setback because they had a good team.
“But we got together on the Thursday afterwards and we said we weren’t going to slip up now and get knocked out of this Championship early. Championship hurling is about Munster titles and All-Ireland titles. Now we’re in an All-Ireland semi-final, but, by God, we’re going to be in for one hell of a battle in two weeks’ time.”
And the big stage of Croke Park will be something the young team will relish.
“We will, yeah,” admits Shanahan. “It’s new for most of us. A lot of this team hasn’t played there. So we’re going to go up and give it one hell of a battle. But Kilkenny are the team at the top, and it’s up to us to get up to them.”
'By God, we’re going to be in for one hell of a battle in two weeks time'
WATERFORD’S MARQUEE FORWARD Maurice Shanahan says the Munster side absolutely believe they can shock Kilkenny in a couple of weeks’ time.
Derek McGrath’s side saw off Dublin in Thurles on Sunday and now face the All-Ireland champions at Croke Park.
“This Waterford team definitely believes,” the Lismore man says. “But Kilkenny are there. They’re the best team around. Tipperary aren’t far off them, but Kilkenny have the All-Ireland and it’s up to us to get up there.
“Yeah, we will believe. Whether that’s good enough on the day, we’ll see, but we’ll give them one hell of a battle.”
The Déise faced Ger Cunningham’s Dubs having lost the Munster final to the Premier last time out. Shanahan admits it took some getting over before they prepared for the quarter final last weekend.
“But we got together on the Thursday afterwards and we said we weren’t going to slip up now and get knocked out of this Championship early. Championship hurling is about Munster titles and All-Ireland titles. Now we’re in an All-Ireland semi-final, but, by God, we’re going to be in for one hell of a battle in two weeks’ time.”
And the big stage of Croke Park will be something the young team will relish.
“We will, yeah,” admits Shanahan. “It’s new for most of us. A lot of this team hasn’t played there. So we’re going to go up and give it one hell of a battle. But Kilkenny are the team at the top, and it’s up to us to get up to them.”
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