by Jackie Cahill

Waterford selector Dan Shanahan has insisted that Allianz Hurling League final opponents Clare are "streets ahead" of the Déise.

The two counties are set to meet in the May 1 showpiece ahead of a Munster SHC semi-final on June 5 and Shanahan was impressed with Clare's "absolutely outstanding" performance against Kilkenny in Sunday's League semi-final in Thurles.

Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald has described Waterford as "the best team in the country" at this point in time but Shanahan responded in kind, hailing the Banner men's qualities.

He said: "Watching the game on Sunday, Clare were just unbelievable.

"The system they use, everybody knows to a tee what their jobs are.

"We were behind the Kilkenny lads watching the game and no bulls**t, they were absolutely outstanding.

"I'm not building up Clare, I'm just being honest, they were absolutely outstanding, streets ahead of us. 
"They've won All-Ireland U21 titles in the last few years but we're competing with them and that's a big thing."

Shanahan also declared himself satisfied with Waterford's performance against Limerick in Thurles.

He added: "We would be very happy, bad first half, good second half.

"Again, I think we created maybe five or six goal chances and took three, not bad."

Waterford doubled their goal tally for the entire League campaign in the second half of Sunday's tie alone and Shanahan reflected: "Certain fellas can get goals easier than others but it's not a thing we worry about to be honest with you.

"If a fella gets an opportunity, we're well capable but we don't worry about it one bit. If we win a game by ten points to nine, that will do us. It's all about winning at the end of the day."

And Shanahan rejected any suggestion that Clare and Waterford will be playing within themselves on May 1, with the championship clash to come just five weeks later.

Waterford do have the benefit of finding themselves in this situation 12 months ago, when they faced Cork in the Allianz League decider ahead of a Munster championship clash between the counties.

Waterford won both games and Shanahan said: "It's a national title and we want to win every game we play. I know Davy Fitz and he's in the same boat.

"There's a nice trophy at the end of this and we have never been in back to back finals in Waterford.

"To be here with this team, creating history, is credit to the lads.

"Back in my day, with a good team we never did it.

"We're playing Clare again five weeks later but it happened last year with Cork. "We're going to do our best in the League final and while it's Clare again in five weeks, we want to win every game we play, and Clare will be the same. It should be interesting.

"Davy is entitled to his opinion (about Waterford) but we won't be looking at anything like that. We're in a final, we want to win the game, Clare are our opponents and they're absolutely outstanding. We'll give them the respect they deserve and it should be a great final."

Meanwhile, Shanahan has revealed that younger brother Maurice will undergo further tests later this week on the injury that kept him out of Sunday's game with Limerick.

He explained: "I've seen it out there that it's a hip injury, it's a groin problem he has to be honest. He's being assessed by a specialist and we'll know more by the weekend.

"He could have played if we pushed him but that's why we have a panel.

"We learned that lesson not to play players unless they're 100 per cent."

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