Dan Shanahan has heaped praise on Waterford's supporters that made the trip to Croke Park for last Sunday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final.

In the end, the Deise men suffered a six-point defeat at the hands of defending champions Kilkenny but team selector Shanahan feels that 2015 saw some pride put back in the jersey, with nine wins from 12 games, after only 100 travelled for their league opener at the start of the season.

"We were in a semi-final now, this time last year we were watching a semi-final. I won't say we were in bonus territory because we wanted to come up and win," Shanahan told the Irish Examiner.

"We have been winning all year and we wanted to get up there and win. We are disappointed. The players are disappointed and the supporters are disappointed.

"I have to give the supporters credit because we are back on the road again. There was only around 100 people at the first league game against Limerick. There was a massive crowd there at Croke Park on Sunday.

"Our lads have got them off their seats and brought them back up to the matches again which is good. We won the league, beaten in a Munster final and beaten in an All-Ireland semi-final. It's hard to take but that's sport."

Tweet

Most Read Stories