Shanahan and Hennessy lament final horror show

WATERFORD hurling stars Dan Shanahan and Clinton Hennessy spoke yesterday of their huge disappointment in the wake of Sunday’s shattering defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC final.

Hopes were high in the Déise that Davy Fitzgerald’s side could end a drought going back to 1959, but an awesome Kilkenny side never let them get a foothold in the game. Kilkenny scored 2-16 in the first half alone, and ended with 3-30 to Waterford’s 1-13.

“The disappointing thing is that we never performed,” said Shanahan yesterday.

“We trained well and felt we were right for the game, but we just never got into the match at all.

“I want to thank all our supporters for sticking with us loyally this season and for the last few years. I’m just sorry they didn’t get a better show,” added the 2007 Hurler of the Year.

“We’ll regroup and lick our wounds but we’ll come back next year and give it another lash. It’s hard at the moment because the game was only a couple of days ago, but we’ll all go back to our clubs for the local championship the weekend after next and just get back into it that way.”

Goalkeeper Hennessy paid tribute to Kilkenny. “They were outstanding, they got three goals and they were looking for more all through the game. It was a depressing game to play in and I’d credit all our supporters who waited until the end. It must have been very hard to do, the way the game was going, but we really appreciated their loyalty and the fact that they stayed. They’ve been very good to support us for years.”

Both players are anxious to seemanager Davy Fitzgerald continue with the team. Despite Sunday’s defeat, they both gave the Clareman full credit for steering Waterford to the All-Ireland final, despite only taking over in June in the wake of Justin McCarthy’s departure. “Davy was a huge factor in us getting to the final and it would be great if he stayed on,” said Lismore clubman Shanahan.

Hennessy echoed Shanahan’s words.

“Davy has been outstanding in the short time we’ve had him in charge — if we had the benefit of his training and coaching for pre-season training and a full national league programme, I think the team would come on even more.