In Killeagh, they had long been waiting in anticipation for Barry Walsh to make his senior debut for quite some time.
That wait finally ended this year when he hit 1-14 against Midleton in the league and then fired home 1-08 against Na Piarsaigh a few weeks later in the Cork championship.
While many of those scores were from placed balls, Walsh's goal against Na Piarsaigh was something to remember. He caught the sliotar in the air, took on two opponents and let fly from way out.
The breakout senior year and goal were just of many landmarks that Walsh has met in his hurling career.
Having been part of Cork hurling development squads since under-14 level, his selection on the GAA’s 2023 minor hurling team of the year was greeted with great pride by everyone in his home club and county.
From there he stepped onto the under-20 squad and next season will feature in his third year with Cork at that level.
In the past few weeks, the exciting young forward has also been included in an extended senior panel by new manager Ben O’Connor.
He’s only been at a brief meeting with the panel and management, and will now turn his attention to trying to make the official panel for next season, but all the evidence would suggest that he is on the right track to do so.
The gap certainly is a massive one, but last year’s Young Hurler of the Year Darragh McCarthy showed what was possible by winning two national titles with Tipperary.
Over the past six years, when the under-21 grade switched to under-20, it has proved increasingly difficult for young players to seamlessly break into senior set-ups, although the likes of McCarthy and Cork’s Alan Connolly and Shane Barrett have managed it.
Even making the step up from underage to senior at club level is a significant one.
"This was my first year as a senior with the club and it was a great experience, a big step up," Walsh told RTÉ Sport.
"The pace of the game is the biggest thing you notice, and the physicality.
"Straight away that’s a huge step up from the get-go. How quick everyone moves; they are more alert all over the pitch and you are getting hit way more too so there’s a big physicality element."
While making O’Connor’s senior side will be a huge goal, Walsh has big ambitions for Noel Furlong’s county under-20 side too.
"2026 will be my last year playing with the lads I have been playing with since the development squads and I am looking forward to that," Walsh said at the launch of Fulfil's new title sponsorship of the GAA Hurling Under-20 All-Ireland Championship across the next three years.
"You wouldn’t want it to end, but it will, so you have to make the most of it," he said. "And hopefully win something out of that last year too."
Every player who reaches the top echelons of Gaelic games has his or her own journey to take.
Some arrive courtesy of development squads, others come to prominence with schools and more thrive at college. There are those who only come to notice through sustained performances with their clubs.
Each road has its own hurdles and end destinations.
Someone with Walsh's ability was always going to be thrust into an elite space from a young age, although has felt no pressure along the way.
"There are many different routes and development squads definitely help you when younger to get you into a routine of getting up early and making the journey to training and travelling 30 minutes, 60 minutes, to train on the weekends.
"It’s an early signpost that if you want to do this, these are some of the things that are required. You are not coming in at 17 and finding stuff out.
"It has definitely been good for me to work on the skills more and if you have a desire to play at a high level, the development squads are places where you will pick up good habits.
"And if you want to play for Cork at the highest level in future it certainly gives you a taste of it. It gives a vision of what players must do in the future," he concluded.
For Walsh, the future is already here. A potentially huge season awaits with possibly both the under-20s and seniors.
The evidence suggests he will take it all in his stride.
