Pauric Mahony back in the groove after long-awaited return

Pauric Mahony can’t say the wait was worth it but the satisfied look on his face coming off the field on Sunday said it all.

Thirteen months after his horrific leg break lining out for Ballygunner, the 24-year-old’s first competitive inter-county start was a pivotal one in Waterford’s 2016 season.

Although he saw some league action, they came in cameos and he worried he might not be able to do enough to claim a starting place, particularly when Maurice Shanahan was also trying to regain his position.