Hurling star Dan the man scoops excellence award
The forward from Lismore was chosen for the Tower Hotel Waterford Excellence Award for July, a month in which his goals helped Waterford add the Munster senior hurling championship to the National Hurling League title they won earlier in the year.
Shanahan scored 3-3 against Limerick in the Munster final, winning him the man of the match award and a third winner’s medal.
Later in July, Dan scored 1-3 against Cork in the drawn All-Ireland quarter-final, with his 2-1 in the replay a week later setting up the semi-final. This saw Waterford playing a third game at Croke Park in 14 days, and this time it proved a bridge too far, with Limerick progressing to the All-Ireland.
Presenting the award, Tower Hotel general manager Alicia Maguire said the Waterford hurlers again brought great joy to the city and county through the summer.
“Dan was a real hero, with his goals helping Waterford through so many tight, tough and thrilling games. You get an idea of the sort of commitment required of what we can sometimes forget are amateur sportsmen like Dan when considering he — along with the rest of the senior hurling panel — took part in some 130 training sessions up to Waterford’s All-Ireland semi-final appearance.
“I’m sure that they’ll be back in 2008 with another very serious challenge for National Hurling League, Munster championship and All-Ireland honours. The hurlers make great role models and everyone in Waterford can be very proud of Dan, but this is of course especially true for the people of Lismore.”
The awards were established in 2003 to recognise excellence in six categories, including sport.
