It was approaching midnight in Dubai as Diarmaid Byrnes settled in to watch Limerick's opening match of this year’s league campaign.
The reigning Hurler of the Year spent the start of the year in the United Arab Emirates, where his partner Elaine works as a teacher.
A homebird by nature, he admits it’s unlikely he would have set sail were she not based on foreign soil, but says the experience was an enriching one.
And one where hurling still featured to some degree as the 29-year-old even togged out for Dubai Celts.
"I played a few games, a bit of training, but didn't go too mad," he says.
Yet it was the return of serious inter-county fare – a league opener with an almost championship feel - on Leeside as nearly 20,000 passed through the turnstiles to see the Rebels emerge with a one-point win, that reminded him of where he wanted to get back to.
"It was unbelievable," he said, speaking at the launch of John West Féile 2023 at Croke Park. "You could even hear the atmosphere over speakers on the TV.
"I thought, for a league match, 20,000 below in Cork for the month of February, imagine what it’s going to be like in championship.
"I was missing home then. I was kind of like, 'Get me back’."
Thankfully, from a Treaty perspective, leaving these shores on a permanent basis holds little interest for the Patrickswell man.
He returned for Limerick’s last two games of the league campaign, and despite being an integral part of a team bidding for a fifth Liam MacCarthy in half a dozen years and voted the best hurler in the land, the first game back against Westmeath brought about nerves more associated with a rookie.
"On the bus, I forgot my airpods. It was like, ‘who will I talk to?’. Everyone has their little routine.
"I was like, ‘Jesus, how will I get on?’ I was really zoned in. It was probably the most clued in I was for a match. With that then you probably overthink, or over-analyse a game.
"Regardless of experience, or having done it before, there is always that nervousness that builds up. Not anxiety, but excitement."
Next up is Tipperary on Saturday night for a place in a league final that few seem to be voiding any great desire in winning. Limerick's only defeat was that last-gasp turnover at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, but you'd struggle to find any observer reading much into form lines in February and March.
Amid talk of early season phoney wars, and the merits of a break rather than knockout league games ahead of championship, the wing-back isn't even sure himself where he stands.
Should Limerick lose they will have four weeks to prepare for their Munster opener against Waterford, while a league final appearance comes a fortnight before the Déise.
"People are probably comparing our league campaigns. When you were so poor last year, it's kind of like 'Jesus, they're flying it' but we're just setting in our targets each week as we go along."
Did they purposefully take the foot off the pedal last year to peak for championship?
"It's not like a master-plan that we talk about. You'd be wrong saying it was a plan or a masterstroke by Paul, John or the team. It wasn't. We just played poorly in the league last year.
"I spoke about this last year as well, our discipline let us down. So we just learned on that and built on that and it was just about learning from that and building on it.
"People have so many opinions on it (the league). They say it's too close, if you're going well in the league, then you won't go well in the championship, you could show your hand too early.
"I really don't know. I personally can't put a finger on it.
"I know some teams might like longer preparation for the championship but you can't predict those things. No team will want to lose on Saturday or in the other game on Sunday. When you're winning games, gaining momentum can be a good thing too.
"Can the break be a good thing? It depends how you use it."
Games, you feel, are especially important to Byrnes as he settles back into a high-performing group.
The joy I got when I got back to the group – I didn't realise how much I missed it when I was gone.
Like most players, he kept the motor running fitness-wise in Dubai and on the team holiday, but it was the return to Limerick training that took adjusting. He was prepared for the adjustment, yet it was still something of a jolt to the system.
"It still takes a couple of weeks to zone back in to the movement, the shape. Knowing what to do with the ball – I know it sounds crazy.
"The game moves so fast, if you’re not zoned into your next move before you receive the ball, or capable of making a run to support someone, without even having the ball. Especially where I play on the field, those are the things I found.
"The joy I got when I got back to the group...I didn’t realise how much I missed it when I was gone. I was a bit emotional in a way. I was so happy to be back."
Individual accolades are far removed from the Limerick collective ethos, so dwelling on being recognised as the outstanding hurler of 2022 is not high on Byrnes’ agenda. Yet he is cognisant of what it means to those around him.
"It was really special for the family and I'm a big family man. That's something I'd always relate back to."
Was it something he ever targeted?
"No. I have people who would vouch for me with regards to my personality and my mindset around a team environment. But no, never. Even winning an All-Star, I never even pictured myself doing that or visualised it.
"Would I have liked to win it? Before I won my first one in 2020, of course. I would have liked to. But a goal, an ambition? No.
"My priority is the team, the man in front of me, the man beside me, and looking after the group always. 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 and I've seen it on the mantlepiece at home.
"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. I'm sure when I retire I'll be like, 'Jaysus, you were actually alright'.
"But right now I'm just really enjoying what I'm doing."
