Record-breaking Noel McGrath still pivotal to Tipp ambitions
Noel McGrath will play against Cork for the 14th time in championship hurling this afternoon, the joint-most of any team he's faced in what will be a record 74th appearance for Tipperary.
As he moves ahead of the great Brendan Cummins, the question is will Liam Cahill opt to start the 34-year-old against last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists or will he break the record from the bench?
Named number 22, as he was against reigning provincial champions Limerick in their opening round draw, McGrath has started in every one of his championship encounters against Cork so far - stretching back to 2009 when he scored three points on Seán Ó hAilpín in his championship debut in a Munster quarter-final victory.
In total he's scored 2-41 in those matches with an average of just under 0-04 per game. Meaning he's scored more against Cork in championship hurling than any other county, he also has a better scoring average against them then anyone else, as well as facing them more often than any team other than Limerick who he's also faced on 14 occasions. A fitting opposition then for him to make his record appearance against.
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