Darragh McCarthy reflects on Toomevara roots and All-Ireland glory with Tipperary
The 19-year-old starred as
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Darragh McCarthy scored a whopping fired 1-13 in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final
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McCarthy during the homecoming celebrations of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles
It capped a sensational debut season for the rookie, who has completed a clean sweep of minor, Under-20 and senior All-Ireland titles.
McCarthy fired 0-8 from frees at HQ, but hurled as if he was at home to seal Tipp's 29th crown.
He said: 'You're just in the back field in Toome again. That's it really, you're kind of visualising all the practice you've done there in Toome.
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'You kind of embrace it. My father would always say, 'If you're going into a big crowd or whatever, just kind of take a few deep breaths and take it all in before anything starts'.
"That's kind of what I've done and you forget about it all then.
'Like Liam was saying before the game, the goalposts don't move. They're the same. Four lines, two goalposts in a field — it's the same thing really.'
And boss Cahill's backing was vital too.
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McCarthy picked up his second red card of the campaign when he was dismissed in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilkenny, having also seen red against the Rebels in the Munster SHC.
And Jason Forde took over the frees before the teen's second yellow card against the Cats.
RTE GAA pundit embrace Tipperary captain Ronan Maher after his epic display toppled Cork in All-Ireland final
But McCarthy was handed responsibility for placed balls again last Sunday and repaid his manager's faith.
That support from Cahill was a huge boost.
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McCarthy said: 'Liam backed me all day after the Kilkenny game. He said, 'You're going to stay on frees'.
'That gives you some confidence coming from the man at the top of it all, giving you that gee-up to say, 'Listen, you're the man to take the frees'.
'But when you had the 40 lads on the panel backing you as well, it gives you so much confidence to go and do what you do in practice every day and go execute there on the big day.
'We believed in ourselves the whole year and it paid off. We really deserved that — all credit to the lads.'
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