Dan Shanahan admits that it was hard to walk away from Lismore after 30 seasons in a black and amber shirt.
"I gave my helmet to Tom Barron of Fourmilewater! My target was to get to 30 years adult hurling and I did. When you see lads getting injured, I don't want that to happen to me. I've been very lucky with injuries and I don't want to run out of luck. I just called it a day after the Mount Sion game. It was emotional, I won't tell a lie. It's the only thing I've ever known to play with Lismore and to play with Waterford. It was sad but after a week I was glad I did it. I'll go supporting rather than running on the line or being out on the field next year."
Shanahan played all four championship games for Lismore this season. "At the start of the year, I had no intention of playing senior hurling. I was going well in training so I kept going. I enjoyed it to be honest with you. You have to work harder when you get to a certain age to play senior hurling. You have to work harder to get your body right and get your recovery right."
He broke onto the Lismore team as a sixteen-year-old. "Sean Prendergast gave me that opportunity to come on in 1993 against my uncle who was playing for Roanmore above in Cappoquin. I don't know has it ever been done before. Tom was playing for Roanmore and I came on for Lismore. We were lucky enough to win a county senior hurling that year. It's the last time we've won one. We did win three or four in a row Under 21s and we all thought we'd kick on and win a senior but it doesn't happen like that. Adult hurling is so different to underage hurling. Winning the intermediate as well and getting back up. We got De La Salle in the relegation final. That year we were tipped to meet in the county final instead of a relegation battle. To get back up straight away the following year under Tony Browne was massive. To see your club lads win the county in Fraher Field and see the enjoyment on their faces that we've won something and we're back up senior. We went on to win Munster as well in Mallow which was a great achievement. I've trained with some of the best fellas that ever put on a Lismore jersey. I was lucky enough to train with them and I'm still best mates with them. Only for them, I wouldn't be half the hurler I was. When you put your hand up against some of those fellas, they wouldn't be long taking it off you! They'd cut you in half! I learned my trade up there. I'll be forever grateful to the Lismore past and present players for what they've given me."
Dan also praised his parents for their support. "I just want to thank my mother and father for putting up with me over the years. My Mam will have no more gear to wash so she'll be delighted!"
Listen back to the full interview with Dan Shanahan from Friday's Lár Na Páirce show.
