Tadhg De Búrca is consistent, and that characteristic is appreciated by others. He is someone with a calm demeanor to whom people can easily gravitate. His manner invites dependence, securely won without request. When he injured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) for the first time in 2019, the confidence in his ability to bounce back was high. His second incident, a mere 14 months later, was viewed with similar optimism. The surprising blow came with a rupture to his Achilles tendon 22 minutes into the 2023 championship match, causing many to question his recovery ability.
The healing course from his preceding ACL injuries had spanned nine months and a year respectively. Between his unfortunate collapse during the 2020 All-Ireland final and the subsequent match, 427 days had passed. His absence marred the 2021 season, but De Búrca re-emerged, despite the setback.
He suffered yet another fall in April 2023 in a game against Limerick. Not long after, Dan Shanahan spotted him at Moves Gym in Dungarvan, clearly nursing an injury. Shanahan voiced concerns over not only the physical but also the mental toll that dealing with another impediment might impose on De Búrca.
Brian O’Halloran, the first player from Clashmore/Kinsalebeg to play senior championship for Waterford, met De Búrca for a casual conversation. They discussed what the future holds for De Búrca. O’Halloran expressed shock over De Búrca’s determination and readiness to undergo another difficult healing period even after the previous year’s injury that derailed his season.
“I find it challenging to comprehend his determination. There are occasions when one might consider skipping a fitness session; however, he never does. He returns consistently like a machine. His commitment to gym is unyielding, and his resolution to restore his physical health post injuries is astonishing. Despite a year-long injury, he had a restricted timeline to prepare for the match against Cork.”
After the game against Cork at Walsh Park a couple weeks back, Derek McGrath looked for De Búrca on the field. McGrath’s youngest child adores him and they wanted to take a photo. McGrath ran into some individuals from Clashmore on the field, sharing his concern.
“Many of us were worried about him,” McGrath expressed. “Concerns about his wellbeing were prevalent, given his past circumstances. You cannot help but feel a knot in your stomach, praying he overcomes this. Yet, you watch him charging into confrontations and coming out successful each time.”
It was McGrath who gave De Búrca his first championship debut in a match against Cork a decade ago, just four months before he turned 20. In the game’s program, he was identified as Tadhg Burke, with his jersey number as two yet playing in position seven. He caught everyone’s attention when he tossed a ball over the bar, covering nearly 80 yards.
A year after, McGrath repositioned De Búrca to the heart of Waterford’s defense, and Jamie Barron was moved to the centre-field. Following a taxing first year as manager, McGrath removed nine seasoned players from the team, banking everything on a fresh approach.
In 2015, Waterford’s strategic variation was mostly signified by De Búrca and Barron. De Búrca primarily served as a defender and acted as a catalyst for counter-attacks. Barron functioned as a connection between defense and offense. They were the linchpins in the machinery of Waterford’s game.
Off the pitch, they formed a close bond at UCC, despite their contrasting personalities. Barron is lively and playful; yet Búrca is reticent. When he was once asked to describe himself in three words in an interview, the first word he mentioned was “quiet”. This initial perception of him remains unchanged.
Stephen Frampton, the previous Waterford team member who also served as a selector under the management of Liam Cahill, has described Cahill as an extremely reserved individual. He notes that Cahill is not loud, choosing to speak in whispers, he communicates what’s necessary.
Back in the early summers of 2016, the Waterford team spent a week on Fota Island. Prior to their stay, McGrath had prepared memory books for every player which contained special recollections, comments, and photos contributed by their respective parents and past tutors. When McGrath later had a glimpse of De Búrca’s scrapbook, what stood out were praises of his manners – comments on his humility, elegance, and good nature. He also struck everyone as determined and goal-oriented.
That season, the Waterford team made it to the All-Ireland semi-finals, only to find themselves back again a year later. Unfortunately, De Búrca was banned that year and despite all efforts to oppose the decision, he remained suspended. On the day of the All-Ireland semi-finals, all the players and management wore the number 5 on their hands, representing De Búrca’s football jersey number that season. To them, it wasn’t about the right or wrong of the suspension and more about unity.
McGrath recollects that such gestures might feel cheesy to some, but he emphasises the importance of De Búrca to the team. In his view, De Búrca’s significance was understated. He reflects on the time De Búrca faced the fallout of his suspension, commenting on the time he saw De Búrca visibly emotional for the first time.
During that time, a cultural clash emerged in the Waterford team. De Búrca was utilised as an additional defender, in a move that diverged from the norm. The concept of ‘hurling sweepers’ was still novel, considered non-traditional, and met with heavy opposition. The defenders of this new tactic were reviled by the vocal majority, angry at the nonconformity. This argument has since cooled down.
De Búrca has certainly left his mark on the world of hurling. In the spotlight for the first time in 2015, he clinched both the Young Hurler of the Year and All Star centre back titles. His prowess was a major talking point that year, as Joanne Cantwell questioned him about Waterford’s trademark style of play at the All-Stars’ banquet. The modest De Búrca admitted that his team had been instrumental in making everything run smooth.
Despite facing criticism and being stereotyped as just a ‘sweeper’, McGrath believes that De Búrca’s ability shines through, arguing that in 2015 and 2016 his task was more than just sweeping – effectively marking, sweeping, and showing finesse and brutal aggression simultaneously.
In 2017, Waterford’s All-Ireland final loss saw De Búrca register a mammoth 24 possessions, surpassing all other players on the field. When the managerial baton was handed to Cahill, who introduced a fresh technique of play, De Búrca was motivated to be more offensive. This saw him possess the ball 18 times in the 2020 All-Ireland semi-final versus Kilkenny, outdoing every other player on the pitch. Subsequently, he ended the season clinching the All-Star for centre back, in spite of a ruptured ACL.
Throughout all these changes, De Búrca’s commanding influence remained a constant. The former Waterford goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe claimed that De Búrca has served as a stabilising force for the team over the past decade and mentioned how all players gravitated around him. He added that De Búrca’s exceptional aptitude, composure, and courageous leadership were qualities that made others proud to join him on the field.
Upon De Búrca’s return from his initial ACL injury, the 2020 intercounty championship was put on hold due to Covid, pushing it to the early days of winter. In the meantime, club matches were held, where Clashmore/Kinsalebeg participated consecutively for eight weeks. However, De Búrca’s performance was nowhere near his best, says O’Halloran, noting his noticeable nervousness during the initial games after his injury.
Nevertheless, by the end of the continuous games, De Búrca managed to find his rhythms again. Yet, his following recovery period proved to be more excruciating and extended – owing to a needed skin graft from his hamstring. This happened while he was residing in Dublin, and he chose to cut himself from the outside world for his recovery.
As Frampton explains, De Búrca opted out of participating in setups during his healing phase and instead undertook a self-recovery regime. If it had been any other player, frequent monitoring would have been necessary, but not with Tadhg. However, with the current injury, doubts often surfaced about his comeback or the form in which he would come back. One would speculate if he could regain his top performance level, which the Cork match confirmed as possible. Frampton described him as a Rolls-Royce – often breaking down more than a Morris Minor due to its finely tuned engines but demonstrated high performance.
It has been a year since his last setback before his most recent return. Now, every moment spent in the jersey is invaluable.