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27th April 2021
04:37pm BST

On the face of it, Maurice Shanahan had it all going for him in 2014. Inside, he was suffering.[/caption]
Eventually he cracked, and that he did was the best thing that has ever happened to him.
"I was a proud fella, and I didn't want to talk about my troubles back then," says the Darkness Into Light ambassador in what turned out to be a powerful interview.
"When I was going through those problems at the start, I didn't want my family worrying about me, 'This will just pass'."
"I'll never forget, we were playing Roanmore in the championship below in Walsh Park. I remember the lads training of the Thursday night, and me having done nothing for maybe a month. I remember Mattie Pender - he was a selector, he said 'we need you tomorrow evening.' I said 'I have no interest in playing that match.' And I didn't, I didn't want to. But it was the best thing I've done. I got the gear the following day, went down, was inside full forward and we got three goals between us, myself and Dan, I got two and it kind of brought a pep back into my step..."
He was back in love with the game.
"I'll never forget it, we got a free to win the game around 60/70 yards out. I'd say most of the lads didn't want me hitting it because they didn't know what kind of headspace I was in but thankfully, it went over the bar. The joy I got from that day. I remember the huddle after the match, I thanked every one of them that got me down there and that gave a bit of life to me again. There was a long road after that, there was, we lost to Ballygunner in the county semi-final but I was back into it big time and I wanted to go to the field, wanted to be back hurling. It got me back."
And now in 2021, just two months after welcoming his daughter Rosie to the world, Shanahan is open, he is honest, he is healthy.
Pictured is former Waterford hurler, Maurice Shanahan, who has teamed up with Electric Ireland to invite the public to join them for a special ‘One Sunrise Together’ for Darkness Into Light on Saturday, May 8th, in order to raise vital funds for Pieta’s lifesaving services. You can sign up now at www.darknessintolight.ieExplore more on these topics: