Big Dan: Get out of Munster? Déise should win Munster

Dan Shanahan says Waterford can't be content with targeting qualification from the province.

Waterford selector Dan Shanahan near the end of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Waterford and Limerick at Azzurri Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Jamie O'Brien/Sportsfile

Waterford selector Dan Shanahan says the team’s objective isn’t to qualify from the Munster championship this year but to win it.

The Déise haven’t emerged from the province since the format of the competition changed to round-robin in 2018. In six stagings, they have won just four of 24 fixtures, one in each of the last four seasons.

It was Shanahan’s extra-time goal that sealed Waterford’s last success 16 years ago and he insists emulating that victory is the goal for the current group, not championship survival.

“We haven't won anything down here in a long time. It was ’10 since we won Munster. People saying to us to get out of Munster is for me bollocks. It’s to win Munster. At the end of the day, you’re judged on trophies, do you know what I’m saying?” 

Retaining Division 1A status is the current aim for Waterford and Sunday’s home win over Limerick has sure given them a strong chance of avoiding a quick return to Division 1B.

In the wake of the drubbing Cork gave them, it was a seismic turnaround. “We never question ourselves, but some people questioned us during the week there,” said Shanahan. “We showed a bit of character there.

“Limerick came down with a very strong team. I think we deserve this, boys. We've been a long time working at this now, as a unit, as a panel together. To win and beat Limerick down here, it's important for us going forward. We're delighted. We'll pack it straight away and move on to Offaly next week.” 

Shanahan counted Waterford being without up to 19 players. “I don't think many counties can be down that. We've eight or nine with Ballygunner. We have Stephen (Bennett), obviously, Jack Pender, Paudie Fitz, Tadhg de Búrca, Mike Kiely was just back, so we were down a lot of bodies.” 

For those all-important gate receipts, but more importantly the heightened level of competition they face, Waterford are determined to remain in the top flight.

“I think it's extremely important first for the county board, financially,” remarked the Lismore man. “Please God, it could be bigger next week. It's massive for that, but the quality of hurling, with respect to the teams that are down there, it sets you up.

“Even if we lost (to Limerick), you still learn something from it and we learned from last week. It's where you want to be. It's where the players want to be. It's where you learn more. It's where the crowds come in.

“Look, it's brilliant. It's just such a pity it's week-on-week and some players could injure or could miss championship. It's very tough on players.”

Manager Peter Queally spoke after Sunday’s game of the importance of performance coach Shane O’Sullivan returning to the set-up last week following Ballygunner’s All-Ireland success.

Shanahan recognises the benefits too. “You see how important Caroline (Currid) is to the Limerick lads. We have Shane O’Sullivan and he's a Waterford man, has played for Waterford. Do you know what I mean? So, that's massive too for us.

“They can ring Shane up and that kind of stuff, you know that the boys talk to individually. The management don't know what they talk about. That's up to them. Personally, when I was there it wasn't for me. Everyone is different in how you deal with things.

“So, Shane is there 24-7 for them lads and he's played for Waterford. He’s 15 county medals so his advice, even without professional advice if that makes sense to you, is unbelievable and to have a man from your own county that has that knowledge of the game of hurling and the knowledge of sports psychology is unbelievable.” 

O’Sullivan’s club will have two teams in this year’s Waterford senior championship. Shanahan admits it will be “tough on the other club teams” but hails the advances Ballygunner have made.

“They've won U14, 16, minors or 17s, whatever they're called, 20s. Got beaten in the junior county final here by Kilrossanty and they've won intermediate and senior. So that will tell you how strong they are. They always say numbers. It helps but it's not the be-all and end-all. It's the way they dedicate themselves to the jersey.”