Despite turning 40 this January, Dan Shanahan was still on hand to tog out for Lismore and help them clinch the Munster Club IHC title last weekend.
The Waterford selector remains involved with his club and this evening on Off The Ball spoke about his emotional link to the people of Lismore.
Club football and hurling is seen as the cornerstone of the GAA, with many players seeing it as the first and last place they will lace their boots. Shanahan is no different and explained why it was so important to try and give something back to a club which he admits has given so much to him.
"It's great for the people of Lismore" he said of their victory over Kilmoyley. "The respect I have for the people and everything they've done for me, my family and Maurice [Shanahan, his brother] over the years has been unbelievable. To be able to repay them a small bit is great.
"To win a Munster medal and to see people I haven't seen in years at games last Saturday was unbelievable.
"Club is club, I wouldn't be in this position to make this phonecall only for my club because I started at a young age and they brought me through the years. The lads and the trainers have got me through to play inter-county hurling with Waterford. To be from Lismore and what they've done by contributing massively to our careers, it's the stuff you dream of.
"Ask any genuine player and they just love playing for their clubs. After that, you play away from your clubs and play for your county. When times were tough for the Shanahan household in Lismore, they were outstanding. It's a small bit to repay them.
"I was a bit emotional last weekend, as in I didn't see people at matches over the years to be there supporting us... You can't buy that."
Shanahan admits that while his age makes him the oldest on the team, he sees no reason why he can't continue to represent his club.
"I'll be a serious age when we get to the Galway crowd in the semi-final. I shouldn't be mentioning I'm not getting any younger. Look I'm enjoying it, I'm fit, I'm strong, my legs are good and I've had no injuries.
"My plan was to pack it up after this year, but I've to go into next year now [...] I'll be playing an All-Ireland semi-final when I'm 40."
He also spoke about the talent of his brother Maurice on the field, his 1-9 against Kilmoyley ensured they were comfortable winners in the end.
"Maurice has been in great form all year being honest with you. People will say that it's because it's intermediate hurling but you still have to go out there and do what you have to do. He's done that all year to his credit.
"He's a fantastic young man, I'm not saying it just as his brother but he loves Lismore and he loves where he comes from. When we got out of Waterford he got better."
Shanahan says that victory last weekend didn't test the his side as much as it could have and it was their tie previous which really made them up their game.
"Yeah it was comfortable enough, I think the Kilmoyley lads would tell you that. We missed three or four goal chances. I think the game we struggled in was against Newport.
"They really put it up to us and I think that victory really set us up for the match. The fight we showed in the first 10 minutes of the second half against Kilmoyley probably won us the game.
"We got two great goals in that period and it really put Kilmoyley on the back foot, it won the game for Lismore."
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