Dan Shanahan
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Daniel Shanahan (born 4 January 1977) is an Irish former hurler. He has been a selector with the Waterford county team since 2013. Born in Lismore,
County Waterford County Waterford () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. It is named after the city of Waterford. ...
, Shanahan was introduced to hurling by his father, a former hurler with Waterford. He was a Harty Cup runner-up with Lismore CBS while simultaneously enjoying
championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...
successes at senior level with the Lismore club. Shanahan made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Waterford minor team. A two-time
Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
runner-up in this grade, he later lined out with the under-21 team. Shanahan joined the senior team in 1995. He went on to play a key role for Waterford in attack during a hugely successful era, and won four
Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
medals and one
National Hurling League The National Hurling League is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition featuring teams from Ireland and England. Founded in 1925 by the Gaelic Athletic Association, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation within the l ...
medal. He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion. Shanahan represented the
Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
inter-provincial team at various times throughout his career, winning one
Railway Cup The GAA Interprovincial Championship () or Railway Cup (''Corn an Iarnróid'') is the name of two annual Gaelic football and hurling competitions held between the provinces of Ireland. The Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster GAA teams are co ...
medal in 2007. At club level he won one
championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this sys ...
medal with Lismore. Throughout his career Shanahan made 52 championship appearances for Waterford. His tally of 21-58 marks him out as Waterford's fourth highest scorer of all time, while he is the all-time leading goal-scorer for Waterford. Shanahan announced his inter-county retirement on 18 August 2010. Shanahan is widely regarded as one of Waterford's greatest hurlers. During his career he won three
All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...
awards, while in 2007 he was named
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,
All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...
and GPA Hurler of the Year. His brother, Maurice, also played at senior level for Waterford, and his former teammate, Eoin Kelly, is his cousin. In retirement from inter-county hurling, Shanahan became involved in team management and coaching. In October 2013 he became part of Derek McGrath's management team to the Waterford senior hurlers.


Playing career


Club

Shanahan played his club hurling with the Lismore club in Waterford. He had several successes at underage levels winning county medals in hurling at under-14, under-16, minor and under-21 levels. Shanahan was only sixteen years-old when he won a senior county club championship in 1993 following a one-point defeat of Passage. The following years proved to be somewhat frustrating for Shanahan and Lismore. Ballygunner and Mount Sion both had very strong teams and dominated the county scene for a number of years. Despite having a depth of talent within their ranks, Lismore were unable to win another county title in this period, going very close on a number of occasions most notably in the 1996, 2001 and 2009 county finals. In 2016 and at 39 years old, Shanahan finally captured another county medal, this time in the intermediate grade. This win was followed by Lismore winning the Munster Intermediate championship with a victory over Kerry side Kilmoyley. He was still playing for Lismore at the age of 45 in the 2022 championship. He had announced his retirement at the conclusion of the season, playing his last game for Lismore against Mount Sion in the Waterford SHC quarter-final. He returned to play for Lismore in 2023 and in the following year he came on as a substitute in the 2024 championship relegation play-off win on 16 August against
Tallow Tallow is a rendered form of beef or mutton suet, primarily made up of triglycerides. In industry, tallow is not strictly defined as beef or mutton suet. In this context, tallow is animal fat that conforms to certain technical criteria, inc ...
, it was his 32nd consecutive season playing adult club hurling.


Inter-county

Shanahan's inter-county career began with the Waterford minor and under-21 teams. He was a member of the Waterford team that reached the Munster minor final in 1994. However, Cork ran out comfortable winners. The following year Shanahan and Waterford were back in the Munster final against the same opposition, and once again it was the Cork men who emerged victorious. He was also a member of the Lismore CBS side that reached the Harty cup final the same year. A star studded Midleton CBS outfit were the opposition, and despite Shanahan being amongst the goals, it was the east Cork school who took home the cup. He joined the Waterford senior team in 1995, however, he did not make his senior championship debut until 1998. That year Waterford held All-Ireland champions Clare to a draw in the Munster final, however, the Decies lost the replay. Shanahan's side later faced
Kilkenny Kilkenny ( , meaning 'church of Cainnech of Aghaboe, Cainnech'). is a city in County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region, Ireland, South-East Region and in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinst ...
in the All-Ireland semi-final in what would be the county's first appearance in
Croke Park Croke Park (, ) is a Gaelic games stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Named after Archbishop Thomas Croke, it is referred to as Croker by GAA fans and locals. It serves as both the principal national stadium of Ireland and headquarters of the Gaelic At ...
since
1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cove ...
. Kilkenny won by a single point. In 2002 Waterford emerged from the doldrums by reaching the Munster final once again, however, Shanahan could not command a definite place on the starting fifteen. In spite of this he came on as a substitute to claim his first
Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
winners' medal as Waterford defeated Tipperary by 2–23 to 3–12. It was their first provincial crown in thirty-nine years. After surrendering the Munster title to Cork in 2003, Shanahan's side were back in the provincial showpiece for a third successive year in 2004. He was by now a regular on the starting fifteen. In the Munster final, Waterford defeated Cork for the first time in forty-five years to take the title by 3–16 to 1-21. An All-Ireland appearance subsequently eluded the team yet again. In spite of this there was some consolation at the end of the year as Shanahan's scoring prowess earned him his first
All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...
award. The following few years proved difficult for Shanahan. Waterford crashed out of the early stages of the provincial championship in 2005 and 2006. On both these occasions his team was defeated by Cork in the All-Ireland series. He did, however, win a second All-Star award in 2006. In 2007 Shanahan added a
National Hurling League The National Hurling League is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition featuring teams from Ireland and England. Founded in 1925 by the Gaelic Athletic Association, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation within the l ...
medal to his collection when Waterford defeated Kilkenny by 0–20 to 0–18 in the final. He later claimed a third Munster winners' medal as Waterford defeated
Limerick Limerick ( ; ) is a city in western Ireland, in County Limerick. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Munster and is in the Mid-West Region, Ireland, Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region, Ireland, Southern Region. W ...
by 3–17 to 1–14 in the provincial decider. Shanahan himself scored a hat-trick of goals in the second half. While Waterford were viewed as possibly going on and winning the All-Ireland title for the first time in almost half a century, Limerick ambushed Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final. In spite of falling short of championship success Shanahan's tally of eight goals over the whole championship marked him out as one of the best forwards in the country. He was later presented with a third All-Star award as well as claiming the Vodafone Hurler of the Year award. Shanahan later made a clean sweep of all the player of the year awards by also collecting the GPA Hurler of the Year and
Texaco Hurler of the Year The Texaco Hurler of the Year was a hurling award, created in 1958, that honoured the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award was part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields were honou ...
awards as well. 2008 began with Waterford losing their opening game to Clare as well as their manager Justin McCarthy. In spite of this poor start Shanahan's side reached the All-Ireland final for the first time in forty-five years. Kilkenny provided the opposition and went on to defeat Waterford by 3–30 to 1–13 to claim a third All-Ireland title in-a-row. Shanahan was relegated to the subs' bench in 2010 as Waterford faced Cork in another Munster final. A 2-15 apiece draw was the result on that occasion, however, Waterford went on to win the replay after an extra-time goal by Shanahan. It was a fourth Munster winners' medal for Shanahan, a record that he shares with five other Waterford players. In August 2010 he announced his retirement from the inter-county game after Waterford's exit to Tipperary in the All Ireland semi final.


Inter-provincial

Shanahan was also a veteran of five
inter-provincial championship The Inter-Provincial Championship is a three-day cricket tournament in Ireland, played between regional teams drawn from three of Ireland's five provincial unions. It parallels first-class cricket tournaments in other countries such as the Coun ...
campaigns with
Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
. He first lined out with his province in 1998, however, he did not capture a winners medal in this competition until 2007 when Munster defeated
Connacht Connacht or Connaught ( ; or ), is the smallest of the four provinces of Ireland, situated in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms (Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, C ...
by 2–22 to 2–19.


Post-playing career

Shanahan joined the
Laois County Laois ( ; ) is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland Region and in the province of Leinster. It was known as Queen's County from 1556 to 1922. The modern county takes its name from Loígis, a medieval kingdom. Hist ...
backroom team under newly appointed manager Willie Maher in late 2022, having previously been part of a Bennettsbridge management team together.


Honours


Team

;Lismore * Waterford Senior Club Hurling Championship (1): 1993 *
Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship The Waterford Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Waterford IHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Waterford County ...
(1): 2016 * Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship (1): 2016 *Waterford Under-21 Hurling Championship (4) 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 *Waterford Minor Hurling Championships (1) 1995 ;Waterford *
Munster Senior Hurling Championship The Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, known simply as the Munster Championship, is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition organised by the Munster GAA, Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the h ...
(4):
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
,
2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
,
2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
,
2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
*
National Hurling League The National Hurling League is an annual Inter county, inter-county hurling competition featuring teams from Ireland and England. Founded in 1925 by the Gaelic Athletic Association, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation within the l ...
(1):
2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
;Munster *
Inter-provincial Championship The Inter-Provincial Championship is a three-day cricket tournament in Ireland, played between regional teams drawn from three of Ireland's five provincial unions. It parallels first-class cricket tournaments in other countries such as the Coun ...
(1): 2007


Individual

* All-Stars: 3 ** 2004, 2006, 2007 *
Texaco Hurler of the Year The Texaco Hurler of the Year was a hurling award, created in 1958, that honoured the achievements of a hurler of outstanding excellence. The award was part of the Texaco Sportstars Awards, in which Irish sportspeople from all fields were honou ...
: 1 ** 2007 * All-Stars Hurler of the Year: 1 ** 2007 * GPA Hurler of the Year: 1 ** 2007


References

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