Dan Shanahan Delivers Clear Message On Waterford's Position In Munster Championship

Dan Shanahan, a four-time Munster Senior Hurling Championship winner with Waterford, has been a selector for the county since 2013. The 2007 Hurler of the Year has weighed in on the discourse surrounding Waterford’s place in the Munster Championship.

Waterford finished bottom of the table in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship, this year, registering just two points from a win over defending All-Ireland Champions Clare in round 2, in April.

The Déise fell to defeats against Limerick, eventual All-Ireland champions Tipperary, and Cork, as they crashed out of the championship by the end of May. Following Waterford’s exit, public discourse on their position in the Munster championship ensued.

Some felt that Waterford should try and make a move to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, where they would surely finish higher than bottom of the group, such is the competition in Munster.

Dan Shanahan weighed in on the debate on Friday on the Indo Sport GAA podcast, talking with host Michael Verney.

The 2007 All-Star dismissed emphatically any suggestion that Waterford should seek to change jurisdictions.

I hate this talk of, ‘get out of Munster, get out of Munster’. Win Munster and you get out of Munster.

People are saying to me, ‘Ah, it’d be great to come out of Munster, it’d be unbelievable Dan to come out of Munster’. But for me, win Munster. There’s no point in saying, ‘Oh, it’d be great if we got out of Munster’. If we get out of Munster and get to an All-Ireland quarter-final, we still have no trophy.

Are we happy getting out of Munster, not winning a trophy and going to an All-Ireland quarter-final and not winning an All-Ireland? For me, personally, it’s about winning Munster, winning an All-Ireland. Because if you don’t have that belief and that willingness to do it, you can’t do it.

It’d be great to get out of Munster but you have to believe you can win Munster, then you’ll get out of Munster.

When you believe you can win the All-Ireland, you have a chance of winning the All-Ireland. Our job is to win Munster and if you win Munster, you’re in an All-Ireland semi-final and two games away from being All-Ireland champions.

The message is clear then from Dan Shanahan to Waterford - focus on trying to win Munster, rather than trying to join the Leinster Championship.

While on the podcast, Shanahan also discussed the fact he still plays hurling, aged 48, and much more. Watch the full podcast here.