Shanahan opts to call time on Waterford career

GAA:DAN SHANAHAN announced his retirement last night and the 2008 hurler of the year departed the intercounty scene without giving Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald a ringing endorsement for his three-season tenure.

"Personally, I think my time is up," said Shanahan on Newstalk's Off the Ballshow. "It has been a roller coaster. Good and bad. Like any player. I made some friends out of it and kept some friends. One loss; obviously the big one ('08 All-Ireland final) but I can hold my head up high."

Shanahan was asked to comment on the tactics and performance that ended in yet another All-Ireland semi-final defeat for the Munster champions last Sunday against Tipperary.

“Tipp were definitely better than us on the day, but they knew our tactics off, more than anything else, it’s hard to play against anyone after that.

“Two of their forwards got five (Noel McGrath) or six (John O’Brien) points each. That doesn’t happen at intercounty hurling, some player getting six points from play – it’s a one-off. You can’t concede those scores, 11 points from play.

“I think we were confident with (the tactics), because they worked against Cork, but Tipp exploited them big time.”

Shanahan, now aged 33, ensured Waterford achieved a fourth provincial title in eight seasons with an extra-time goal that saw off Cork in the Munster final replay, but that contribution was not deemed sufficient to see him regain a starting place for last weekend.

“Yeah, I thought I’d get a lot more (time) if not start, but that’s not my decision. I’d been playing well in training, but obviously the management made the decision. I would have to stand by that.

“Yeah, I was (disappointed). Every fella is disappointed when he doesn’t start. I thought I had a bit more to offer – obviously they didn’t think so.”

Shanahan was asked if Fitzgerald discussed the reasons for not selecting him.

“No, not really. Personally, he never came up to me this year and said I wouldn’t be playing or anything like that.

“But he is the manager. Every manager that has been there I have respected. I mightn’t have always got on with his tactics, but he is the manager – that’s his job to pick the players.”

When asked if he believed Fitzgerald would return for a second term, Shanahan replied: “Well, personally that’s not my decision. That’s the county board’s decision.

“We’ll see what they’ll do. It isn’t about me or Davy Fitzgerald; it is about the Waterford team and the Waterford players.”

McEnaney ‘will now have to think very carefully’ about Monaghan position

HAVING expressed a wish to return unopposed as Monaghan football manager for another term, Séamus McEnaney released a statement yesterday in the wake of club delegates insisting other candidates be interviewed for the position.

“I thought long and hard about my own future as Monaghan team manager after our exit from the 2010 championship,” read the McEnaney statement. “I listened to people whose views matter to me. I listened in particular to the experienced players. For me the most important people in any football environment are the PLAYERS.

“I came to the conclusion that with a further three years we had every prospect of making further progress on the strides we had made over the last six years, considering where this team came from to now being one of the top teams in the country. Monaghan football is in a great place right now and what is most important is the future of Monaghan football and the continued progression of this group of players.

“The decision of Monaghan GAA County Committee to now ask for nominations for the job that I have been privileged and honoured to hold can be interpreted in different ways. One perspective is that there are some who feel that I may not be the man to continue to lead this team.

“Do I wish my name to go forward and perhaps be part of a ‘competition’ for the post . . . Well, that’s a prospect I will now have to think very carefully about.”

Weekend Fixtures

Saturday

All-Ireland JFC Final – Sligo v Kerry, Pearse Stadium, Galway, 3pm.

All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Semi-finals – Tipperary v Antrim, Tullamore, 4pm, T Carroll (Offaly); Galway v Dublin, Tullamore, 6pm, J O’Mahoney (Limerick).

All-Ireland Under-21 B Hurling Semi-finals – Roscommon v Meath, St Lomans, Lakepoint, 2pm, J O’Rourke (Monaghan); Kerry v Fermanagh, Pearse Stadium, 1.15pm, S Whelan (Wexford).

Womens’ Football All-Ireland Senior Quarter-finals – Monaghan v Laois, Banagher, 12.30pm; Cork v Tyrone, Banagher, 2.15pm.

Sunday

All-Ireland MFC Semi-final – Mayo v Tyrone, Croke Park, 1.30pm, R Hickey (Clare).

All-Ireland SFC Semi-final – Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, 3.30pm, M Deegan (Laois).

All-Ireland MHC C Final – Donegal v Tyrone, Casement Park, 1pm, M Mulholland (Derry).

Camogie All-Ireland Minor A Final (replay) – Clare v Galway, Semple Stadium 1.30pm.

Camogie All-Ireland Senior Semi-final (replay) – Galway v Cork, Semple Stadium, 3.30pm.