THERE WAS Dan Shanahan, strolling glumly from the field as the match continued, presumably disgusted with then Waterford manager Justin McCarthy’s decision to replace him. Shanahan refused to grasp the outstretched hand.
Next thing we know the Deise hurlers had ousted McCarthy in an efficient coup and Davy Fitzgerald took over. They reached the All-Ireland final that year only to be obliterated by Kilkenny.
That was to be the end of them, went the general opinion.
Shanahan, Tony Browne, Ken McGrath and John Mullane had supplied great service and memories over the years. Silverware had come, but the 2008 All-Ireland final had apparently come too late.
Two years on and they are Munster champions – and all of them are still hurling. Remarkably, Shanahan has accepted a role on the team’s periphery.
Surely, his match-winning goal against Cork brings him back into favour for the All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary?
“Don’t know. Different game to the Cork game. It’s his decision, if I’m coming on as a substitute it will do me grand. It’s not about me it’s about us.
“Personally, I think there is 70 minutes in me, depending on what position he’d play me now.
“Whether I like it or not, I will respect his decision no matter what. I might not always agree with it, but he’s the manager.
“When you see Tony (Browne) finishing games at his age (37) and get all the young fellas mixing in with the older fellas, it is unbelievable. He’s done a great job and the lads with him have done a great job. I think every team has one or two players that are hard to handle but it is how you handle them is the thing.”
Shanahan is supposed to be hard to handle. Maybe it is the way Davy Fitz handles him so.
He admits to contemplating walking away and only for extra time against Cork he may have been too disgusted to return to training for what he sees as his last campaign.
“If Eoin Kelly had taken his chances I wouldn’t have got any game. It would have been very interesting to see what reaction I would have got out of that. I enjoy encouraging the young lads. If I have anything to offer, which I have still, I will help Waterford.”
Meanwhile, Down forward Benny Coulter may yet feature against Kerry in Saturday’s All-Ireland football quarter-final after responding positively to treatment on a hamstring injury. Danny Hughes is also expected to be available despite recently suffering a stress fracture of his metatarsal.
Kerry must plan without defender Padraig Reidy as well as the suspended Tomás Ó Sé and Paul Galvin, but Micheal Quirke’s hip is not expected to rule him out.
Dublin report no major injury concerns with Cian O’Sullivan to be included in the panel after hamstring problems while Tyrone forward Tommy McGuigan should also be available.
Roscommon will make a call on their goalkeeper Geoffrey Claffey (knee) tomorrow ahead of their meeting with Cork on Sunday.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday
All-Ireland SFC Quarter-finals – Kerry v Down, Croke Park, 2pm; Dublin v Tyrone, Croke Park, 4pm.
All-Ireland MFC Quarter-finals – Tyrone v Kerry, Croke Park, noon; Mayo v Offaly, Dr Hyde Park, 12.30pm; Longford v Galway, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm.
Sunday
All-Ireland SFC Quarter-finals – Roscommon v Cork, Croke Park, 2pm; Meath v Kildare, Croke Park, 4pm.
All-Ireland MFC Quarter-final – Cork v Armagh, Croke Park, noon.
