HURLER of the Year and Limerick All-Star Diarmaid Byrnes has already won a medal this season.
At the launch of the John West Féile 2023, of which Byrnes is an ambassador, he revealed that during his recent extended holiday he played hurling in a desert.
The three-time All-Star told the Irish Times: “A great friend of mine, Wes Morrissey, he’s the manager of the Dubai Celts and I’ve a good relationship with him. Kevin O’Brien, a (Patrickswell) clubmate of mine was out there as well, so look it was a bit of craic. Relaxed, but they take it very serious as well, you’d be surprised at the standard of hurling, it’s very high.
“I played a few games, a bit of training, but didn’t go too mad. It was a tournament style thing, there’s five or six teams and you play them all in your group and then there are finals. We won a tournament, so it was good. Very enjoyable. Nice start to the year.”
He added: “I just said I’d switch things up, I’m doing what I’m doing now since I’m 14 years of age (now 29), between academies and underage and stuff,” he explains.
“I was only gone for a couple of weeks, it’s not like I was gone for too long. I came home in okay shape, that’s the main thing.”
On becoming HOTY 2022, Byrnes commented: “I know the individual awards are recognition for your contribution to the team throughout the year, and I’m so happy to have achieved it, maybe I’ll look back on it in years to come.
“The mother has it, she took it that night after the All Stars and I’ve genuinely only seen it once or twice since. That’s her baby and it’s special to have that kind of memorabilia for the family.”
Byrnes has lined-out with Limerick in more than 30 championship and over 50 league matches since debuting against Wexford in February 2016.
On Saturday, he again bombed over seven long range points in Limerick’s NHL defeat of Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds.