Dan Shanahan made an appearance off the bench for Lismore on Saturday afternoon. It is the 2007 Hurler of the Year's 28th season in the club game.
Lismore defeated Fourmilewater 2-22 to 0-20 in Group C of the Waterford SHC. Dan's brother Maurice scored a remarkable 2-17 in the game.
Shanahan, now 43, first played for the Lismore seniors in 1993.
He went into Saturday's game carrying a slight injury but made an appearance as a substitute in the second half, coming on following the game's second water break.
Full Time Lismore 2-22 Fourmilewater 0-20 The Maurice Shanahan show 2-17 (14 frees, 1-3 from play & a penalty)
— Tomás McCarthy (@tomasmcc) August 1, 2020
"I absolutely love being involved," he told WLR FM on Friday.
I love my club, I love where I come from.
If I thought I didn’t have something offer, I would step back and play junior or retire. I do think I have something to offer.
I love training, I’ve always loved training. It clears the head, it gets my body right, keeps me in some bit of shape.
Shanahan said he's smart enough to know that he can no longer keep up with the 18-year-olds on the pitch but believes his experience is still of value. On nights when he doesn't have club training, he spends time at the ball alley working on his touch. He's also a Lismore selector.
"If it’s catching a ball, hand passing it and bringing other lads into play, that’ll do me," he continued.
"I just love going to the field training and being involved as a coach with Brendan Landers, giving my point to the boys.
"I just love going to the field. I’ll probably still go when I’m 50!
"They’re a great bunch of lads in Lismore and I’ll never forget where I come from.
"There will come a time when I know my body isn't able for it. It's nearly there.
"I see John Mullane togged out for the [De La Salle] juniors a couple of weeks ago. A person told me not that long ago, 'Play as long as you can because when you give it up, what will you go at?'"
Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
