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The 42
7 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'The feeling never gets old, it's as good as ever' - Tipperary stalwart Noel McGrath
TIPPERARY STALWART NOEL McGrath was relishing a return to the All-Ireland hurling final in a brilliant post-match interview yesterday. The Premier county defeated Kilkenny to reach their first final since 2019. There was some uncertainty after the game over the final score with the GAA set to investigate after confirming it as 4-20 to 0-30. A McGrath shot in the 70th minute was at the centre of the confusion, waved wide by an umpire but added to Tipperary's scoreboard tally, 4-21. Kilkenny then chased a goal, rather than points. The issue wasn't raised on RTÉ immediately after the final whistle, as McGrath celebrated jubilantly before joining former manager Liam Sheedy, Jackie Tyrrell, Ursula Jacob and Joanne Cantwell on The Sunday Game. Tipperary's Noel McGrath joins The Sunday Game panel in the aftermath of his side's dramatic All-Ireland SHC semi-final victory over Kilkenny. — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 6, 2025 'The feeling never gets old, it's as good as ever,' he said. 'It's hard to put into words at the moment, it's just after happening. 'That initial feeling will never get old for anyone when you're not playing, never mind when you are playing. It's such a great feeling. We'll enjoy it now for the next few hours. Advertisement 'I don't know what to say, the game ebbed and flowed. It was very like the '19 semi-final, a man down but we dug in. And Jesus Oisin's goal was unbelievable, what a finish!' McGrath went on to analyse the game, offering on-field insights on Darragh McCarthy's red card, O'Donoghue's 69th-minute goal, and Robert Doyle's last-ditch block. 'I would have got to it!' he quipped, hailing several of his team-mates including his brother, John. The Loughmore-Castleiney man, who came off the bench in the 50th minute, lauded the young talent in Liam Cahill's squad. 'They bring a freshness. When new lads come in, I won't say they don't care, but that care-free attitude… When I came in, you have that as well. When you get older, it just gets different. Them lads just want to play hurling. They're out hitting balls before I'm even at training some nights. Brothers in arms: McGrath siblings Noel, Brian and John celebrate at the final whistle. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO 'Some of the performances there today were like lads that had been up here loads and loads of times. Some of them have never even been in Croke Park, let alone played up here… 'There's four, five, six lads playing today that didn't play last year. That has pushed us on. It's like anything: once you get a few results, confidence just builds and there's a pep in your step going to training and matches. It just gives you that confidence and energy. Maybe we were only a few percent off last year. 'It's working. It's working so far. We still have no trophy on the table, you know what I mean? We're in an All-Ireland final. You have to just f***ing go in — sorry. You have to go in and talk about it, enjoy that now inside and then get ready for a few weeks time.' Cork booked their All-Ireland final return with an emphatic win over Dublin on Saturday, and McGrath continued: 'That's some experience there today. Even coming in before the match and the crowds on the streets, that's something new for a lot of lads. 'That experience will help and it will be even bigger in a few weeks time. There will be a sea of blue and gold and a sea of red everywhere. 'That's why you play. Why else? We're sitting at home for the last five or six years watching those days. To be involved in it now is exactly where we want to be.' 🔥 The Premier power into the All-Ireland final after a semi-final for the ages!@TipperaryGAA #KILVTIP — The GAA (@officialgaa) July 6, 2025 Three-time All-Ireland winner and All-Star McGrath also spoke about his different role as an impact substitute as a lengthy interview drew to a close. 'Look, everybody wants to play. There's no point in saying they don't. There's 38 lads on our panel and I'm no different. You do what you're asked to do. If Liam wants me for 70 minutes or 10 minutes, I'll be ready to do that. 'I'm delighted to be able to give whatever I can when I can. Coming in, the boys have a lot of the hard shift done, the play is a bit different, you just come in and do what you have to do. 'I'm 34 years of age, to be out here in Croke Park is unbelievable. I love every minute of it. As I said before, I'll stay doing it as long as I'm wanted, as long as I'm able and as long as I'm enjoying it. I don't know how you can't enjoy days like today.' *****
The Irish Sun
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Pure raw emotion' – RTE viewers loved Noel McGrath's post-match interview from accidental F-bomb to hilarious gag
NOEL McGRATH delivered a lengthy interview after Tipperary edged past Kilkenny that proved an absorbing watch for several reasons. As usual nowadays, the 34-year-old was deployed off the bench for the home stretch as the Premier overcame Darragh McCarthy's red card to overturn a late two-point deficit. Advertisement 2 There was a bit of confusion over the full-time score but it was 4-21 to 0-30 2 The Loughmore-Castleiney clubman and his teammates will meet Cork on July 20 Credit: @TheSundayGame He still had enough gas in the tank to get involved at both ends of the pitch - including being in the thick of it as Robert Doyle made a crucial goal-line clearance in the dying moments as Kilkenny desperately chased a goal. This provided a funny moment in the interview as he watched the replay of it back alongside RTE's punditry trio of Liam Sheedy, Ursula Jacob and Jackie Tyrrell. He was only just visible within the camera shot as Doyle blocked a shot that had flown past keeper Rhys Shelly. Yet McGrath quipped "Ah I would've got to it!" Later on in the seven-minute chat the veteran half-forward let an accidental F-bomb slip whilst summing up how you can never get tired of winning big games at Croke Park. Advertisement Read More On GAA He emphasized: "The feeling never gets old, it's as good as ever. It's hard to put into words at the moment because it's just after happening. "That initial feeling will never get old for anyone when you're not playing, never mind when you are playing. It's such a great feeling... "Some of the performances there were like lads that had been up here loads and loads of times. Some have never even been in Croke Park, never mind played up here... "We still have no trophy on the table, you know what I mean? We're in an All-Ireland final. You have to just f*** sorry. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling "You have to go in and talk about it, enjoy that now inside and then get ready for a few weeks time. "That's some experience there today. Even coming in today and the crowds on the streets, that's something new for a lot of lads. Palestine GAA players watch camogie match on laptop "That experience will help and it will be even bigger in a few weeks time, there will be a sea of blue and gold and a sea of red everywhere. "That's why you play. We're sitting at home for the last five or six years watching them days. To be involved in it now is exactly where we want to be." Advertisement His overall ability to succinctly analyse how Liam Cahill's men avoiding wilting after McCarthy's second booking had appeared to hand the initiative to the Cats really jumped out to viewers. Journalist/broadcaster Aisling O'Reilly tweeted: "A brilliant post-match interview by Noel McGrath, pure raw emotion. What a player." Similarly, Pat hailed: "As good a post-match interview as I have ever heard! What a great player and person Noel McGrath is! "Cork are definitely NOT All-Ireland champions yet! Well done Tipp!" Advertisement
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Tipp can bring the medals but less Croke Park knowhow
In their Christmas quiz last December, the members of the Irish Examiner hurling podcast were asked which team had the longest unbeaten senior championship record in Croke Park. The three wise men were flummoxed and when Tipperary was revealed as the answer there was an understandably salty response from host Anthony Daly. Tipperary haven't lost in The Big House since 2017 but their winning run extends to just three games, one more than next best, 2024 All-Ireland champions Clare, and the last of Tipp's victories came in '19. Of the four teams playing this weekend, Tipperary have by far the most All-Ireland senior medal winners and medals in their panel, eight and 15 respectively. After the retirement of Cillian Buckley, Conor Fogarty and Walter Walsh last year, Kilkenny have three champions (Eoin Murphy, Richie and TJ Reid) and between them 12 Celtic Crosses. Tipperary might have more medals, but they have been waiting to get back to Croke Park more years than any other Liam MacCarthy Cup team. On the flipside, since losing to them in the 2019 All-Ireland final, Kilkenny have played there in the SHC 15 times. 'It's an interesting one,' says Tipperary selector Declan Laffan of the factors in and out of his team's favour. 'Obviously, we're in Munster so Kilkenny are used to being in Croke Park, they're in it a couple of times every year. Read More Derek Lyng has lived the Tipp rivalry up close and personal 'Obviously we have some elder statesmen and they're not actually that old with the exception maybe of one or two, Ronan and John McGrath are only 29 and 30, I know it feels like they're around a long time. They have lots of mileage up, but they're still in the peak of their powers to be fair to them. "Hopefully it'll be a help to us and some bit of an advantage when the time comes in some of them big games.' Fifteen of Tipperary's All-Ireland quarter-final panel are set to get their first playing experience of Croke Park on Sunday. Having Noel McGrath in his 17th season to put the metaphorical arm around these rookies, as he did literally around Darragh McCarthy after his sending off against Cork in April, is huge, says McGrath's Loughmore-Castleiney club-mate Laffan. 'Since a lot of the underage All-Irelands have gone out to Croke Park, it's taken away the opportunity for a lot of lads to get in there. Without a doubt, the likes of Noel [McGrath] and Ronan and those lads, they're great leaders in the dressing room and I'm sure whatever bit of advice they can give out to the group, it will be hugely beneficial.' There are extremities of age in the Kilkenny camp – Eoghan Lyng was two when TJ Reid made his Kilkenny senior debut in 2007– and the same goes for Tipperary: recent U20 All-Ireland winners McCarthy, Paddy McCormack, Oisín O'Donoghue, Sam O'Farrell were around five as Noel McGrath claimed his first of three All-Ireland medals in '10. Tipperary seem to be defying the claim made by John Kiely three years ago that the gulf between U20 and senior had become wide. 'Obviously, Darragh is small in stature but he's a solid unit,' Laffan points out. 'He's all there and the other three boys are fine. A lot of them guys still have a certain amount of their gym work done. They've been at it since they've been in development squads all the way up along. 'It's not like they were discovered overnight and it was, 'Look, you have to go and pump iron six days a week.' They've been doing it a certain amount. I think players are more tuned in to what's required and I suppose particularly this bunch of them, they've been winning all the way along.' Then there is Clonoulty-Rossmore's Robert Doyle, the county's U20 full-back two years ago who has had a breakthrough season after agreeing to come into the panel. 'Robert is his own man and I think he's been a revelation in fairness to him,' enthuses Laffan. 'I'm not going to say he didn't need a bit of coaxing… I think he just wasn't sure of himself maybe more so and had other things that he wanted to do first.'
Irish Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I'd shudder to think the mileage them boys have' The evergreen McGraths
With John McGrath reclaiming some of his best form this year and his brother, Noel, still contributing richly, Declan Laffan is better placed than anyone to run the rule over them. Laffan, a Tipperary selector under Liam Cahill, is a Loughmore-Castleiney clubmate of the pair, who have been central in so many ways to the team's belated return to Croke Park this weekend. To be fair to Noel, his levels have hardly dropped since he first came into the side as a teenager back in 2009, but John's best days looked to be behind him after struggles with form and fitness in recent years. He has confounded that with a hot run of form in this campaign, however, hitting 4-12 en route to Sunday's semi-final against Kilkenny. Laffan may know what makes him tick better than most, but he's taking no praise for the upturn in form. 'No, look, I think John deserves all the credit there to be fair to him,' he said. 'He's worked really hard. 'I think people don't really understand how serious an injury that Achilles is. We talk about cruciates and they are terrible injuries but an Achilles is a good bit worse. It just takes so long for the body to heal. 'It probably took him two years before you actually looked at him running and he wasn't limping almost, trying to mind it. I would also say he's probably gained half a yard of pace back this year too. Confidence gives you that too. He's got his chances and he's taken them. More will keep coming, please God.' While Laffan didn't necessarily expect him to be so prolific, he does acknowledge that there were indicators that the 30-year-old was getting back to his best. 'Noel will vouch for this - he's been the standout player in the club Championship definitely last season and even a bit the previous year even though Loughmore didn't go particularly well that year with a lot of injuries. Last year he was a tour de force the whole way through for them.' And Noel? 'There's not too many more things we can say about Noel. There's been a lot said and written about him over the years. 'Just the way he's able to contribute to a game though. Not everybody can come into the heat of battle 10 minutes into the second half and he's just able to pick it up straight away and he knows where to go. That's the experience that does that for you. 'His hurling brain, second to none.' One of the greatest dual clubs in Ireland, Laffan has managed Loughmore in both codes simultaneously, including when they won a memorable county double in 2013, with the McGraths the lynchpins then and since. 'I'd shudder to think the mileage them boys have actually clocked up if you go back to their youth. To be fair to them though, with the exception of John's injury two or three years ago, they have been very fortunate with injuries. 'They've been dual players all their lives and at every grade they've played juvenile with their club, their county, the whole way through. 'They've been the mainstay of every team they've been on. To consistently keep doing that and not break down and how they're able to mind their bodies and recover and obviously they're doing everything right to give themselves the optimum chance to do that and that's just a credit to them.' And, as Laffan explains, it's not the Loughmore way to encourage a player towards one code more than the other. 'Obviously I'm a Loughmore man, right. If someone wants to play, they play out and that's that. There's no telling a lad you're not playing. If you want to play, they're playing. 'Going back to a comment I made many years ago when I was over them, something about we're greedy feckers, we want to win everything. They're the very same.'
Irish Examiner
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Tipp have clean bill of health for Cats clash
Tipperary selector Declan Laffan says the belief Liam Cahill overtrains his teams is of no consequence to the group. After the county's failure to qualify from the Munster SHC last year, excessive sessions was cited as a reason only for Cahill to insist this season that they didn't do enough. 'The public perception of Liam is that he flogs his teams and, look, let the public think what they like, we just have to worry about what we do,' said Laffan at Tipperary's All-Ireland semi-final press event on Monday evening. 'We probably didn't get it right last year, we probably tapered it back a little bit too much and maybe suffered in the latter end of the game where teams just pulled away from us and we just hadn't it in the lungs to stay with them. 'So, look, it's a fine balance getting it right and it's even the same coming into big games like this, match-week, how you tailor training during the week that you don't end up flat? Do you do an hour, do you do 40 minutes? 'Everything has to be tailored properly and that's where your S&C guys have come in and laid down the law and make sure that things are done right and that we don't overcook lads.' Laffan reported a largely clean bill of health for Tipperary ahead of Sunday's clash with Kilkenny. 'We're looking good at the minute, I don't think there's the usual bangs and bruises for this time of the season, but in general I think we have a healthy squad to pick from, so we'll just have to try and get it right now, I suppose.' Loughmore-Castleiney man Laffan believes the two-week run-in from the All-Ireland quarter-final win over Galway is suitable. 'We had the long break after the Munster championship which was, I'm not going to say it was difficult, but it took a bit of managing to get right. And then obviously we had Laois and in a way it was probably the ideal game to set us up for that Galway match. 'The two-week break after Galway, I would think it's ideal, it's given us ample time to process that and get ready for the next one and go about our business and do whatever analysis we have to do. I think it's worked well for us and look, if we win we'll say we have it right and if we don't, somebody will find fault. There's not much we can do about that though.' Tipperary will have former Kilkenny goalkeeper David Herity in their ranks on Sunday as coaching support. 'David is an excellent coach and has brought huge contributions this year to what we've been trying to do,' said Laffan. 'He will probably have a bit of inside knowledge. Whether it will benefit us or not, we won't know until the game plays out. He's all-in. You don't give eight or nine months with a team unless you're fully committed.'
