Championship comes too soon for Tadhg de Búrca to help Waterford cause

The centre-back won’t be in and around the Waterford camp at training or on matchdays as he takes a different approach to his second cruciate rehab

Tadhg de Búrca with Waterford manager Liam Cahill, centre, as he leaves the pitch injured during the 2020 All-Ireland SHC Final. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

“I haven’t watched it back. Couldn’t really face it yet,” says Tadhg de Búrca, his answer indicating an underbelly of pain that still lingers almost five months on.

The Waterford centre-back delivered the above response when asked to recall the cruciate ligament tear that forced him out of last December’s All-Ireland hurling final after only 20 minutes of action.