The famine is over for the Tribesmen.
Deservedly, Galway were crowned 2017 All-Ireland hurling Champions after they eventually trumped a brave Déise battle in Croke Park.
Galway have endured years of hurt, years of pain. There were dark days, they were called bottlers, their own county called them out.
When ‘player power’ ousted Anthony Cunningham from his post as their manager, they were questioned, they put their necks on the line, and this, this was do-or-die for them.
From the moment they took to that Croke Park pitch at 3:30 on Sunday, they were hell-bent for success, they weren’t going to take no for an answer.
They played out a game for the ages with Waterford, it was an advertisement for hurling, it was two of the most skillful teams in the country and they delivered on the biggest day of all.
It wasn’t as if Waterford didn’t show up, it wasn’t as if they thrown it away, it wasn’t as if they didn’t do themselves justice.
These lads can have no regrets, absolutely none. They put their heart and soul into this team, into this cause, from the very beginning of the year, and even when they were maligned, criticised and taken apart for their defensive style, they stuck together, they stayed side by side.
Their team unity, spirit and camaraderie is unquestionable, their talent, their strength of will and character is unquestionable.
From Derek McGrath to each and every other member of this panel, there are heroes, there are legends.
If there is one man from this panel who embodies everything that is good about this Waterford team, that man is surely Jamie Barron.
He may be small in stature, but by God, he’s big in heart. The midfield maestro never stops trying, running, hooking, hassling, probing, carrying and leading.
Jamie Barron is one of the most skillful players in the country, with his wristy touch, his pinging strike, but what separates him from the rest of them is his courage, his bravery.
He never stops, he’s never deterred. He’ll run, run and run. His dazzling feet and cutting ball-carrying ability is the heart that never stops beating in the sunny south east, and though Sunday wasn’t what they wanted it to be, this man shouldn’t be forgotten, this team shouldn’t be forgotten.
He was brilliant today, he was brilliant all year and nobody can take that away from him.
