Pauric Mahony made his competitive return for the Waterford hurlers on Sunday, 10 months on from suffering a very serious broken leg injury.

Mahony suffered the horrific injury playing for his club Ballygunner in a Waterford SHC game at Fraher Field on May 9 last year, but after a lengthy recuperation period, Mahony returned to action in Waterford's draw with Galway at Walsh Park.

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Mahony came on as a substitute to a huge reception in the 68th minute and provided the assist for Gavin O’Brien's late equaliser for Waterford.

"We were glad to get Pauric into it," said Derek McGrath afterwards. "We just felt that in the home game that he would benefit from the crowd being delighted to see him back and that would give him a confidence boost going forward."

Waterford face south-east rivals Wexford in the Allianz Hurling League Division I quarter-final in two weeks' time, and Mahony will be hoping to get more time in Waterford's remaining league games, in a bid to be back at peak fitness by the time of Waterford's championship opener against Clare on June 5.

Before he suffered his injury last year, the 23-year-old was in the form of his life. He scored 1-90 in Waterford's 2015 Allianz League winning campaign, and he was expected to make a big impact on last year's championship before the leg break.