Waterford hurler Calum Lyons enjoyed home comforts as he prepared for the new season but not everyone was impressed with his efforts.
“My mother is a bit angry with me because I have the back garden torn up! You were limited because the pitches were closed. The soccer pitch is straight across the road from me and I couldn’t even go up there. Between the roads and the back garden, I just made do I suppose.”
He powered through the physical work as well. “Luckily enough, I have a bar and a few weights at home so you just make do with what you have. You just have to work with what you’re given and make the most of it.”
Management monitored his progress from afar. “They were very good in fairness. Through Zoom calls and stuff, they always stayed in contact somehow, a phone call here or there from the lads just to keep you motivated because it is tough going. You need to keep the contact there to make you think of why you’re doing it in the first place. They were good to keep in contact and keep you focussed.”
The Waterford wing back scored 2-10 from play during the 2020 season. That golden goal against Cork in the Munster semi final was an obvious highlight. “I just said I’d keep the head down and stay going and if the opportunity arose, just have a go. I wouldn’t be a prolific goal scorer down through the years with the club, I didn’t know what I was at, just head down and see what happened I suppose!”
The All Ireland final was a lowlight. “We left ourselves down on the day. We definitely we underperformed. It was my first All Ireland and I definitely took a lot from the game anyway, I’m sure a lot of the new lads can say the same. All we can do is learn from it and make sure if we get the opportunity again that we don’t slip up again.”
The number five will miss the reassuring presence of Tadhg De Burca at number six. “He is brilliant to have alongside you, he always seems to be there to clean up your mistakes! A huge, huge loss but knowing Tadhg and the man he is, he’ll come back as strong as ever. It’s an opportunity for other fellas to stand up I suppose.”
Listen back to the Lár Na Páirce League Special.
https://www.spreaker.com/user/wlrfm/leaguespecial2021
