"We’re just eager to go and try and improve and make up that ground" - Barron rearing to go for 2021 | WLRFM.com

The Nire-Fourmilewater's Jamie Barron has become an All-Star for the third time.
He claimed a coveted midfield spot in the team of the year alongside Clare's Tony Kelly.
Barron spoke to WLR Sport after the ceremony to look back on the year that was.
"It’s a nice feeling I suppose. It’s nice for your friends and families and a bit of recognition at the end of the year is nice as well."
"But look, you’re probably straight away looking to forward next year as well, trying to improve on our All-Ireland final loss. That’s where the main aim lies now and its full steam ahead again."

Waterford dejected after the game. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

With the championship being played in the depths of winter with the added negatives of lockdown hanging over the country, he says that it was great to be able to provide a means of entertainment for people when it was most needed.
"A lot of people remarked the same thing to me. When you were playing the matches, you thought that no one was seeing the matches or no one as looking on seeing as the stands were empty, but obviously, the whole of Ireland was probably tuning in."
"It’s kind of strange in that respect."
"I think for Waterford, it did give the county a big lift at the time. Things have been tough the last few months and the last year, so any bit of a help or any bit of an uplift you can give to people is fantastic."
"Hopefully, in the coming months we can do that again if the GAA is reinstated, and we can drive on again please god."

Heading into last years Championship, Waterford had gone nine games without a championship win - the previous victory taken from the hands of Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final in 2017. A four-point advantage was enough to secure victory in Semple Stadium in what was Liam Cahill's first senior championship game in charge of a county team.
Barron says that the result against Cork was probably the most significant of the campaign.
"The Cork game- there was lot of pressure off our shoulders after that victory, after the two years that had gone before it. There was a lot of pressure, I think it was eight games in Munster we’d gone without winning a game, so that was huge.
"Also I think the Kilkenny second half was very enjoyable to play in and to come out the other side of."
"I think they were two big moments for us this year"

Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson

Making their way to the All-Ireland final with a new management team was seen as a good return for the teams efforts, but management and players alike have said that challenging at the top table is not enough. When Fergal Horgan blew the whistle at the end of the game, their sights were set on 2021.
"The blinkers kind of went on straight away to be honest. From where we were the last years, we made a lot of improvements this year, but we know that there’s a lot of more improvements within us that we can get out of us."
"We’re just eager to go and try and improve and make up that ground."
"We believe that its in us, we believe that there’s loads of games to be mad in lots of aspects of our play so we’re just looking forward straight away from the turnaround to get going again."
"Hopefully it comes around sooner rather than later."

Picking up an All-Star in the midfield is no mean feat. Considering the number of possible selections that could be made and the scarcity of gongs to be handed out - a spot in the middle of the park is as rare as hens teeth, something that Barron thinks may be down to the change in how the game is played.
"The way hurling is now, any position is hard to get a grip on. I think hurling has probably changed a lot, the physicality and the skills levels have gone through the roof."
"To be able to improve and keep up with all these big industrious and athletic players – its tough and it’s a good challenge and its something that we all enjoy doing."
"Look, we improved a good bit last year, and hopefully we can improve more to get the better of Limerick and teams like that who’ve really lead the way the last few years."

Having laid claim to his third honour, Barron now joins some illustrious company with icons of Waterford hurling such as Ken McGrath, Tony Browne, Dan Shanahan and Noel Connors.
"They’ve all been players I looked up to my whole life."
"Especially the fella’s you named there – they were always guys that I wanted to be like and adored really and worshipped. To be on a level playing field in that respect is nice as well, but there’s lots of improvements hopefully I can make and the team can make going forward that can get what they couldn’t achieve in their time which was the All-Ireland and its something that we’re really looking forward to trying to do."
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