GAA:There will be no more tilting at windmills for Dan Shanahan. The Waterford veteran will not get his hands on that elusive All-Ireland winner's medal having decided to call time on his inter-county career.
After 15 seasons in the trenches, and having won all there is to win bar the All-Ireland (four Munster titles and a National League title), the 33-year-old has opted to hand up his boots in the wake of Sunday’s semi-final defeat at the hands of Tipperary.
"Personally, I think my time is up," he told Newstalk's Off the Ballthis evening. "It's been a rollercoaster. It's been good and bad . . . I've won lots, obviously not the big one, and can hold my head up high."
Shanahan was sprung from the bench last weekend but the game was already up for Davy Fitzgerald’s side. And after his heroics in the Munster final replay, Shanahan admitted he was disappointed not to be on from the outset.
“I thought I’d get a lot more, if not start, but that’s not my decision,” he added. “It’s the manager’s decision and I have to stand by that.
“Obviously I was a bit disappointed, but every fella is disappointed when he’s not picked. . . . I thought I’d a bit more to offer but obviously they (the management) didn’t think so.”