Eight days after the county's latest agonising exit in an All-Ireland semi-final, Waterford's Dan Shanahan was in Dublin yesterday to receive his Vodafone Hurler of the Month award for July, along with Ross Munnelly of Laois, who picked up the football equivalent.

With the All-Ireland line-up now confirmed as a fourth Cork-Kilkenny pairing in eight years, Shanahan reflected on his team's narrow defeat against the champions after a season that had given them a glimpse of a first final appearance in 43 years.

His form peaked with the 1-5 from play he shot against Tipperary in the quarter-final, a performance that earned him yesterday's award. The last day, however, it was harder going in the company of the game's elite unit, Cork's half backs, and his tally was down to one point.

"We played well enough to get the draw and I thought we were a bit unlucky," he says of the game, before recounting his own experience.

"You're always under pressure on Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. We had tussled before and broke even, but I suppose he got the better of me this time. I didn't go up there to have a poor game and I suppose I didn't play that badly. I worked hard, I tried hard, and I can't do anything more than that. Seán Óg was up on my back most of the time, playing me rather than the ball, but that's the way the tricks go. He did his job."

At the end of the match a number of Waterford players appeared unhappy with referee Brian Gavin. To most neutrals, the Offaly official had given a reasonable display and, if anything, played on to give Waterford a fighting chance of a last-second equaliser. But Shanahan says his team had issues with some of the decision-making.

"The time Cork got the goal, John Mullane was fouled, a dirty foul. Once or twice I thought I should have got frees. They were definitely frees. You could see it in one of the papers - Ó hAilpín had my jersey pulled. That's the way it goes, but I was disappointed with some of the decisions."

Asked if Waterford lacked strength in depth, he disagrees - even when it's pointed out that a Cork substitution made a decisive impact.

"When Cathal Naughton came on the first thing anyone should have done was hit him a dig into the ribs or something - it's what would have happened to me if I was coming on. The first ball he got he put over the bar and the second one he buried it. Would he do it again? We'll see."

After what was a crushing setback for the team, there has been speculation that a number of the Waterford players might be considering retirement. Shanahan feels that, whereas no players should walk away, a rest might do some of them good.

"Tony Browne came back in April. He did the right thing and had a fantastic year. If one or two of us do that next year and come in for the championship from April on - like Paul Flynn or myself. Because it's a big commitment from January on and hard to stay fresh."

He also believes manager Justin McCarthy, widely expected to call it a day, shouldn't rush into a decision. "I think he should stay on. He's after taking us within an inch of an All-Ireland final this year. If Justin wants to stay, I'd definitely have no problems."

Finally, he casts an eye over the final that just escaped them and gives the nod to the champions in their quest for a third successive title.

"The way they celebrated after beating us I reckon it was their All-Ireland final. If anyone was going to beat them it was us, and they caught us on the day. Kilkenny will give them a game, but I think Cork will have the upper hand - no disrespect to Kilkenny or anything.

"Shefflin got 1-13 on Sunday. They need to take some of the pressure off him. Clare missed one or two or maybe three goal chances, and I don't think that'll happen Cork. Their half backs and midfield are outstanding. If they want it they can keep going for five and six."