“Leave everything on the pitch – no regrets, blood, sweat, and tears.”

Albert Burke

That was the late Albert Burke’s own caption for this evocative and now poignant ‘Blood and Bandages’ post-match picture the day in 1989 when Roanmore won their first County Senior Hurling final by beating Ballyduff Upper at Walsh Park. It was taken by fledgling photographer Noel Browne, pictured inset alongside veteran Kilmac’ cameraman John Kiely that same afternoon.

I knew Albert, who “enjoyed” two stints training the Fenor hurlers twice over the past decade. He was sadly laid to rest in his native Touraneena last Saturday; another one gone too soon.

Straight up and down to earth, Albert was a charismatic character and a superb all-round sportsman. As I said online, he made friends easily everywhere he went – from Sliabh gCua/St Marys to Portlaw to St Josephs FC and other clubs and workplaces in between. Having played football for the county, he followed Waterford GAA teams with a passion, as well as the Blues and Munster rugby.

When Albert found and posted the picture on Facebook seven years ago, his friend Billy Costine commented: “commitment, courage and a never say die attitude – what the jersey meant on your back and pain didn’t enter the equation.”

Former inter-county referee Jim Joe Landers, who interviewed Albert in the winners’ dressing-room for WLR, added: “That photo brings back memories … a great player from a lovely family.”

Centre-field with Maurice Wadding the first year and partnering Noel Crowley in the engine room as Roanmore made it back-to-back titles in 1990, Albert placed the hurley he used in the ’89 final and his winner’s medal in his dad Ned’s coffin when he died in 2001.

“He was my mentor all the way up. I always believed in giving everything you have on the pitch. It was the only way I knew,” he said. “No pain, no gain.”

Last week was Waterford’s loss. RIP Albert.