Shanahan didn’t ignore McCarthy ’deliberately’

Dan Shanahan Waterford

Dan Shanahan has insisted that he didn’t deliberately avoid former manager Justin McCarthy’s handshake following his substitution in the Munster SHC defeat to Clare a fortnight ago.

The 2007 Hurler of the Year appeared to avoid McCarthy as he was called to the sideline during the closing stages of the Gaelic Grounds clash, and the incident was widely taken as a sign that all wasn’t well between the manager and his players.

"Every player hates to be taken off," Shanahan said. "And I’m no different to any other player. What happened that day is for another day, but I hate to be taken off.

"The pictures in the paper made me look bad, but there was no intentions there. People took it up the wrong way but there’s nothing I can do about that only to get out on the field and do my best.

"But I didn’t deliberately do that. I wouldn’t do that deliberately to any man."

While acknowledging that the circumstances which led to McCarthy’s resignation were unfortunate, Shanahan believes the events of the past week can bond the players further.

"We’re sticking together on this. We’re linked like a chain and nobody’s going to break that. We’re probably going to get a bit of flak, but we’re well used to that. This can make us stronger - it has already. It’ll be interesting meeting the new man (Davy Fitzgerald)".