
'I'd love to play forever': Noel McGrath joins Tipp greats with fourth All-Ireland medal
Only 12 from the county have more than Noel McGrath and by winning a Celtic Cross in a third different decade the Loughmore-Castleiney man joined an even more exclusive group. From Tipperary, John Doyle collected honours from the 1940s to 60s, Jimmy Doyle from the 1950s to '71 and before them Tommy Doyle.
McGrath wasn't completely aware of those records but being interested in Tipperary hurling history he had an idea of where a fourth All-Ireland medal would place him. 'There's no point in saying that I didn't know that if we won, getting to four was the first time since '65 or '71 that someone has done it.
'I live hurling and I know a lot about the history of Tipperary so I would have been aware of that and now that's happened. Sure, it's a great feeling and I'm delighted to be one with four. There's a lot of lads with three and a few with two and more with their first so to be in that category is unreal.'
Just like Darragh McCarthy is now, McGrath was 19 when he claimed his first All-Ireland medal. As a substitute on the day, McGrath was quick to put his arm around the Toomevara youngster when he was sent off prior to the Munster SHC defeat to Cork.
His recovery since has heartened his older team-mate. 'He's one of the most dedicated hurlers you'll find. He's always practising, always doing different things. He's a nice young fella. Nobody likes to see that happen to a team-mate and he had a tough few weeks and months but he gave an exhibition in an All-Ireland final.
Noel McGrath of Tipperary, and his son Sam, lifts the Liam MacCarthy cup. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
'To be able to play and he struck his frees after the last match or two that the frees hadn't gone well for him and (in the final) I don't think he missed one so I was delighted for him.'
To come off the bench and send over a point and share Sunday with his and wife Aisling's two-year-old son Sam made number four all the more special for McGrath.
'I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be able to bring him to Croke Park. To win an All-Ireland with him is unreal. That will be something that I will remember forever and that I have forever. I suppose he'll see all the pictures from it, he won't remember it but he'll have them memories and all those pictures. It's special for me to be able to do that with him.'
To see his younger brother John remind people of his worth in the blue and gold was satisfying too.
'He's been very good for us this year. He's had a tough few years where he had been on (the team), he wasn't on, he was off, you know what I mean?
'But his club form has been unbelievable over the last five, I suppose even 10 years, but especially in the last five or six. I think the whole country is seeing that now, how good he's been over the last six months with Tipperary.'
If Sunday was McGrath's last time in a Tipperary jersey, it was a fitting finale for the 34-year-old.
'There's no point in me saying here now what I know I'm going to do. I'd love to stay playing forever but I know that can't happen. We'll see in time. I'll go back to the club and see how that goes over the next few months.'
The decision on whether to return for an 18th season will be predicated on the mental demands more so than the physical.
'I never really had that evening where you're dragging yourself out to training. You'd be looking forward to it and that for me is the part that really keeps you going, that you're not feeling it as a drag. I enjoyed every minute of it. And when you have an ending like this, it's hard not to enjoy it as well.
'I go in training and I burst myself every night to be trying to get on that 15. And if you're not on it, you want to be one of the ones that come on, you know what I mean? I'm no different to anyone else and when I'm 50 years of age, I'll still want to play. That's just the nature of it.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
24 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘They don't make them like you anymore' hails ex-Ireland star as Paul McGrath & Kevin Moran reunite
TERRY Phelan was among the Irish football fans delighted by a photo of Paul McGrath reuniting with Kevin Moran. Icon McGrath had shared the brilliant photo with his former Ireland centre-half partner to 4 The pair look remarkably good for their age Credit: @paulnumberfive 4 McGrath is the younger of the two at 65 4 While the former Dublin GAA star is 69 4 The early years of Phelan's international career overlapped with both men They've clearly remained close over the years as Back in the here and now, McGrath captioned their most recent snap together: "Great to catch up with an 'old' friend today. He still blames me for getting him sent off in the FA Cup final." Moran did earn the infamous distinction of becoming the first player ever to be dismissed during an FA Cup decider in In the play in question, his fellow Dubliner landed him in deep trouble when McGrath's pass was intercepted at the halfway line. Read More On Irish Football As the last man back, Moran made a desperate sliding tackle to try and win it back but was fractionally late - taking the legs out from under All is mostly forgiven nowadays with the duo grinning from ear to ear in their latest rendezvous. The social media post served as nostalgic gold for Irish football fans - as well as a few former players. Most read in Football 42-times capped Phelan replied: "What a pair of central defenders. "They don't make them like that anymore. I had the great privilege to play alongside them both. Fantastic times." Forest Green Rovers Unveil World's First Fully Vegan Football Kit & Launch Mental Health Initiative Times have of course grown leaner for the Boys in Green since their last World Cup qualification in 2002 and most recent Euros adventure in 2016. Fans will at least learn whether that long wait for another World Cup outing will come to an end before the end of the year as the 2026 tournament qualifiers will be a short, sharp burst from September-November. First up, October 11 and 14 will bring an away tie with Portugal as well as the reverse fixture against Armenia. On November 13 the Aviva Stadium will play host to Like the 1994 edition that Moran and McGrath were at (though the former was a bit-part player at 38 by then), the 2026 competition But unlike its predecessor, the US will be sharing hosting duties this time around with Canada and Mexico owing to the expanded 48-team format.


Irish Times
24 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Liffey Swim: Dispute over running annual event resolved, High Court hears
A dispute between two organisations over the right to run the annual Dublin city Liffey Swim has been resolved, the High Court has heard. Details of the settlement between Leinster Open Sea CLG and Swim Ireland were not disclosed in open court, but Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy was told the historic event would go ahead this year. Leinster Open Sea CLG, a volunteer sponsorship-funded body which organises about 30 sea races every year in partnership with local clubs, had brought proceedings against the Irish Amateur Swimming Association CLG, trading as Swim Ireland, the State-funded governing body for the sport.. Leinster Open Sea had sought orders restraining Swim Ireland from holding both the Liffey Swim and the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Swim. READ MORE As a result of the dispute, two separate Liffey swims took place last year. Dublin City Council, which grants permission for the event to go ahead, indicated it did not want the same thing to happen this year, the court previously heard. Both parties argued they held the rights to operate the Liffey Swim, which has occurred annually since 1920, and the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Swim. Last week, at the conclusion of a hearing into Leinster Open Sea's application for a temporary injunction against Swim Ireland, Mr Justice Mulcahy urged the parties to settle their differences, warning the event was at risk of not going ahead this year. On Tuesday, Michael O'Doherty BL, for Leinster Open Sea, told the judge the parties had settled their difference on Monday night. Mr O'Doherty said he spoke for both parties in thanking the judge for comments he made at last week's hearing, stating that it focused the minds of both sides in coming to a resolution. Counsel said the proceedings could be struck out with no further order. Peter Bland SC, for Swim Ireland, said his side was consenting to the strikeout, and added that the swims would go ahead this year.


Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Win a break away to the All-Ireland Football Final
Kerry and Donegal meet in this year's All-Ireland Football Final this Sunday afternoon at GAA HQ. We're giving one lucky Irish Examiner subscriber the chance to win two tickets to the match, plus an overnight stay for two. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Take us with you this summer. Annual €130€65 Best value Monthly €12€6 / month