​By John Harrington

Waterford selector Dan Shanahan admits his team will have to sharpen up their shooting for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Final replay against Clare.

They hit 20 wides in total, 19 of them in normal time. That had a lot to do with the pressure their shooters were being put under, but there was some poor shot selection and execution as well.

"It is a big concern,” admitted Shanahan. “We’re disappointed that we missed so many wides but a lot of them came from play as well to be honest. Maybe should have carried the ball a bit more rather than shooting from out the field which we’ve instructed the boys to do which they didn’t do today. Which they’ll do next week.

“We’re still in the hunt for a trophy. Recovery now is vital. A lot of lads going in there limping on both teams. They’re amateur players and the way they played out there was unbelievable.”

Shanahan believes the intensity both teams played with proved beyond all doubt that they were not holding anything back for the Munster SHC Semi-Final they will contest in little over a month.

“I don’t get the idea that people think we’re shadow-boxing for four or five weeks’ time. It’s ridiculous talk. It’s absolute BS. That’s being honest with you. You want to win a trophy. There’s a new trophy up there and everyone wants to win it.

“We’re no different than Clare. They haven’t won it since 1978; we want to create history and be the first Waterford team to win it two years in a row. You saw the passion out there from both sets of benches, both sets of players  - when you have that, it’s ridiculous talk.”

Shanahan is adamant there will be nothing held back in Sunday’s replay either, and expects both teams to continue to ramp up the intensity. 

"It’s going to ramp up next week more than the fifth of June,” he said. “I don’t know what the attendance was today but I think it will ramp up next week. Two teams who want to hurl; it might be a better game next week. Hopefully we’ll get the result.”