Better late than never.
At the end of a titanic tussle, the Ardmore players dropped to their knees in ecstasy. The promised land. They had seen off a gutsy display by St Mogue’s Fethard to win the All-Ireland Junior Club Championship at Croke Park.
The score read 3-11 to 0-18 at the end but the Ardmore players will tell you it was much, much closer than that. Extra-time was required to separate the sides in this absorbing decider but, when it came down to it, Ardmore just had that little bit extra left in the tank.
After being confirmed winners at the final whistle, the Ardmore players ascended the Hogan steps to receive their medals and hoist the cup aloft at the end of a hard day’s work. And for Seamus Prendergast, the 38-year-old former Waterford star, it was almost too much to handle.
Ultimately, Prendergast’s experience shone through. The centre-forward scored 1-8 to be named the man of the match and, nearly two decades on after making his debut, the feeling of becoming an All-Ireland champion was enough to move the big man to tears. Indeed, too many Waterford players have come and gone without tasting All-Ireland success but Prendergast, thankfully, will not join that club.
He may have retired from inter-county hurling in 2014 but he remains as vital as ever to the Ardmore cause.
What a hero delighted for this man @SeamusPrender 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ZOGMIjJeIS
— karen kelly (@10karenkelly) February 4, 2018
What a feeling it must have been. To fight tooth and nail and emerge at the end of it with the prize he’d been dreaming of for years. And getting to savour the moment with his brother, Declan, just made it all that much sweeter.
Hurling Brotherhood! Séamus & Declan Prendergast celebrate Ardmore's All Ireland junior hurling victory. Captain & Man of Match. Waterford & Ardmore stars. Club is family pic.twitter.com/2yx8dXgw3i
— Aogán Ó Fearghail (@aoganofearghail) February 4, 2018
All Ireland champions some feeling after all these years. #clubiseverything Ardmore Abu https://t.co/VEca4Eqqv8
— Seamus Prendergast (@SeamusPrender) February 4, 2018
There’s only one Seamus Prendergast 💙💙💙💙💙💙
— Shauna (@shaunacoakley) February 4, 2018
