Maurice Shanahan has recalled how he struggled with depression last year.
But thanks to the help and support of his family, friends and Lismore and Waterford team-mates, he has made a full recovery and was honoured with his first All Star hurling award at Dublin's Convention Centre last night.
"Tonight is a special night for all the lads who got nominated and all the lads who are getting All-Stars, but it is probably an extra special night for me because of the road I came through to get here," the 23-year-old attacker told RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime programme yesterday.
"Last year was a bad year for me, but thankfully I am here today to tell that tale. I am here today because of my Waterford team-mates and my club Lismore, because of my family, my friends and my girlfriend. They got me through the bad times.
"I was suffering from depression, big time. It got on top of me and I couldn't take any more of it. I started to lock myself into rooms after work. I'd go to work and when I came home, I'd lock myself into a room. I didn't want to go out. I didn't want to go to the hurling field. I didn't want to do anything, I just wanted to lock myself away from it.
"I suffered for around two months before the help was given to me because my life was nearly taken. Only for that help… I knew them people were out there, but I never thought them people would understand my situation at the time. But thankfully they did."
Shanahan identified Lismore manager Sean Prendergast and his Waterford counterpart Derek McGrath as two of the people who helped him most in his darkest hour.
"The manager of the Lismore team at the time was Sean Prendergast. He is the local primary school principal below in Lismore and I could hear the bell ringing every day telling me school was finished. The minute the bell was after ringing, Sean was at my house trying to get me out, trying to get me back up to the field. For a while that didn't work.
"Derek McGrath too was very good to me. I met Derek last Christmas and I wasn't even going back playing hurling. 'We won't make any rushed decisions tonight', he said. He said he would give me time to think about it and I said that was grand. I had no interest then, but the interest gradually came back."
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