In an excellent interview with John Fogarty in today's Irish Examiner, Waterford hurling manager Derek McGrath tells of selector Dan Shanahan being accosted by a politician at a funeral.
McGrath was using the anecdote to explain why Waterford management have attempted to protect the panel.
The man in question is not named by McGrath, he's simply labelled a 'well-known political figure'. The politician wished to discuss a difference of opinion which he with McGrath and Co. over their selection of a particular player and the omission of another.
Righty, the 2007 Hurler of the Year reminded the man of the setting in which he was attempting to make his point.
Your relationship with the players and theirs with you, we've kind of cocooned ourselves. That's needed when you're in a county that's trying to create a new culture.
Dan told me he was at a funeral last year and a well-known political figure attacked him over a player being on the team and somebody else not being on it. Dan tried to tell him, ‘I’m at a funeral here’.
We don’t offer our opinions too much on politics or matters of the day. Obviously, you link yourself to charitable things to boost their profiles but it’s open season in sports. I don’t feel taken for granted but I do in my own paranoia. We’re just interested in getting better every time we go to the field.
Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
