Clashmore's Tadhg de Búrca is a two-time All-Star having been rewarded for this superb campaign in the blue and white which saw Waterford fill the Croke Park field opposite Limerick in the showpiece final.
Speaking to WLR Sport after the ceremony, De Búrca said it's nice to get some recognition for the work that goes into playing intercounty hurling, but ultimately the team's sights are set on bigger prizes.
"It’s great to win the award along with the two lads. We put in a lot of work this year and thankfully it's some kind of signs of it paying off."
"Overall, getting to the All-Ireland final and having a good campaign was the main goal of the year."
"Look, it’s a nice award to win, but I think we're a bit more ambitious in Waterford these days. We want to win silverware as a team, either Munster finals or All-Irelands. I think that’s what we have to look at in the future if we want to actually win these awards."
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
With the GAA not certain of a return to play date yet, intercounty players must sit and wait to find out when they can get back to collective training - but De Búrca knows that when the games do return, Waterford won't be going into games as underdogs any longer.
"Next year is going to be a massive challenge again. We won't be coming in under the radar, so it’s a massive challenge for the lads."
"They’ll have to do what they did this year, work very hard, train hard and I’m sure Liam Cahill and Mike Bevans will have the lads under good stewardship, so there will be no issues there and hopefully the year goes well for them."
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
For De Búrca, his day at GAA HQ was cut short all too soon - coming off in the first half with the telltale signs of a serious injury. Going to ground with a grimace across his face, Deise fans watchig from home hoped he would make his way back into the game, but likely knew that his day was done. He says that he knew his All-Ireland had come to an end.
"I knew it was the cruciate straight away, so obviously it wasn’t a great feeling. The whole year was about the team – that’s the mindset the management have and its definitely been instilled in the team and all the players. Just look at Iarlaith Daly who came on and had a great game – its all about the team"
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
"Yeah, so I got the operation on the 5th of January so just over six weeks now post-op, thankfully no setbacks yet or no issues so everything’s going well."
"It’s usually three and a half months before you’re back running or jogging so hopefully I’ll set that target and achieve it – then kind of getting back to play, its usually about six to nine months, so around September hopefully."
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
In the journey to Croke Park, Waterford managed to break their duck and end a 1,175 day wait for a Munster CHampionship win. De Búrca says that the game against Cork was a major turning point for the team.
"I think the Cork game – the first game of the Munster Championship – was a stand out moment because we hadn’t won in a while and we were going in to the game nervous whether you’re going to win or not, and then just the pure relief of actually winning and knowing you’re up there with the best teams in Munster."
All three gongs for the Deise will be making their way to the West of the county and resting on the mantlepieces of De Búrca, Bennett and Barron - something that Tadhg is happy to see.
"It's great to have awards going back to West Waterford. We wouldn’t be renowned for the hurling compared to the Eastern teams, so Waterford is definitely makings sides in that regard."
"It's great for myself and Jamie and Stevie to be bringing awards back to the West of the county."
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