‘They make it very easy for us' – Oisin O'Donoghue hails Tipperary GAA veterans for helping starlets rise to occasion
The goal-poaching prodigy netted game-clinching
strikes
against
He joined Darragh McCarthy and Sam O'Farrell in winning an All-Ireland Under-20 title last month and remains eligible for another tilt at that grade
next
year.
Tipp are blending a youthful team around an established core and O'Donoghue feels that has made the adjustment more straightforward.
He said: 'To play with the likes of Noel McGrath, Ronan Maher, John McGrath,
Jason
Forde and the boys is huge.
'They make it very easy for us. All they do is show you the way and you follow them.
Read More On GAA
'They're real leaders, so if you're following them, you're not doing too badly.
'Séamus Kennedy, Eoghan Connolly and
Jake
Morris . . . every single one of them.
'It's a
dressing room
of lads just trying to help each other out and a group of lads looking to achieve the same goal. When that's the case, it's a breeze.
'It's having a chat with them when you need it. They're always there — just top men.'
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Tipp will make their first
Twelve players who featured against Galway will be playing their first
Championship
game at HQ and O'Donoghue cannot wait.
Tomas O'Se calls out GAA's mid-season rule change but fellow Sunday Game pundit disagrees
He said: 'It's a dream to get to Croke Park and it's another step forward for this team.
'It's something that we set as a
target
at the start of the year, to get back there. We're looking forward to it.
'We know the Tipp and Kilkenny rivalry and it's a big opportunity for us to perform.'
O'Donoghue began the Championship outside the matchday panel but forced his way into the fold with his eye for goal.
He has more than repaid Liam Cahill's faith with his impact off the bench.
The Cashel King Cormacs teen found the net within 20 seconds of his introduction against Waterford.
He whistled a shot inches over the bar against
He returned the favour by unselfishly teeing up a point for the Loughmore veteran.
O'Donoghue recalled: 'Noel being Noel McGrath passed me the ball. He'll put it wherever you want so that's just Noel McGrath for you.
'He put it on a plate for me and it was up to me to finish it. Thank God it hit the back of the net.'
1
Oisin O'Donoghue of Tipperary celebrates a goal, in the 59th minute, with teammate Sam O'Farrell, left, during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final against Galway
Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
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