By Shane McGrath

“Only through the pain, rejection, humiliation or even worse will you become a champion”

Tipp are champions of Ireland. That has a nice ring to it! The above quote is something I came across during the week that I feel perfectly describes Tipperary, not just this team but Tipperary in general.

Tipp have gone through more than their fair share of all of the above, usually at the hands of their fierce rivals Kilkenny, but on this occasion they were so driven that nothing was going to stop them.

I said it all year this bunch of players were different, physically stronger, better ball players and a self-belief in themselves and their system that we haven’t seen in a Tipp team for a while now.

They took the game to Kilkenny from the get go. Ronan Maher (the young lad) set the tone from the off by snapping the ball over the head of one Kilkenny’s leaders, Richie Hogan. It just seemed to scream out “Not Today”

Bonner Maher turning over Cillian Buckley after a very uncharacteristic danger pass from Paul Murphy. “Not Today”.

The work rate and tackle count (Tipp 56 to Kilkenny 34) all seemed to say “Not Today”. Tipp did to Kilkenny what Kilkenny have been doing to teams in finals for a long time. They out worked them, out hurled them, and, most importantly, outscored them on the day when it mattered the most.

“Cometh the hour, Cometh the man”

**Overall it was a TEAM performance that won this for Tipp but of course there were some standout individual performances. Picking Bubbles was definitely the right choice and the lad from Killenaule really stood up and took the responsibility on.

It was the day Bubbles became a real leader of this group. John McGrath, another stand-out performance for a guy playing his first final, looked like a fella that had been doing as long as the ‘91 Tipp team introduced to the crowd beforehand! Coolness personified.

Our backs unit were as solid as ever and kept up that consistency and decision making ability throughout. Paudie’s point out by the Cusack after snapping the ball over Wally Walsh (no small man either) was just inspirational.

Barrett’s ball for Bubble’s goal. He busts out of three tackles and could have easily drove the ball over the back of the Davin stand but he doesn’t, he looks up and picks out Bubbles.

Team wins, everyone wins. Our midfield worked tirelessly throughout and Brendan had in my opinion his best game of the year, a real leader and a wonderful captain. And of course Seamie!

Seamie had the game you dream of as a 10 year old out in the back garden after watching a hurling match on the telly. He just hit form, had one of those days that most of us have in a challenge game in the middle of January or at a club tournament but he had it when the pressure was highest, against the best team on the biggest day. Class.

On the flip side it does make you wonder what faith if any the Kilkenny management had in any of their subs to come into that back line and try and change things up. But Tipp won’t complain!

Kilkenny didn’t have that team performance we normally associate with them in finals but they just weren’t allowed to perform. TJ held scoreless from open play, Richie scored 1-3 but still didn’t have the same influence as he normally does.

Kieran Joyce man of the match in 2014 replay but was taken off early in the 2nd half. It wasn’t their day but please do not for one second even dream of thinking this is the end of this group, they will be back in 2017 hungrier and more driven than ever. Watch this space.

When John McGrath hung up Tipp’s second goal I knew we had it and I won’t lie all those little voices in your head, the ones saying ‘what if?’, and, ‘why didn’t you stay on?’ went into overdrive.

But I was sitting beside two people, Conor O’Mahony and Eamon O’Shea, and when the final whistle went we looked at each other and we knew we had played some small part in helping to get here to this magical moment.

So I swallowed that massive lump in my throat but I did shed a few tears, I won’t lie, but they were tears of joy, tears that after all the hurt and pain of losing here in Croker we had done it, tears that my friends who worked so hard for this had done it, tears for Cathal Barrett who lost his father last year and would know that he was there with him on this day driving him on and lifting that cup with him.

Any personal feeling of the what ifs were very quickly pushed aside to feelings of pure joy that Tipperary were All Ireland Champions and when Tipp win every Tipp person around the World, in Ireland, England, Canada, Australia, America wherever they may be won as well.

I have no doubt many more tears were shed in many bars and for one day Happy Birthday was probably overtaken by Slievenamon as the most sang song in the World!

Here’s my team of the year:

**1. Eoin Murphy - **A very close call between Murphy and Darren Gleeson. Both serious keepers, but Murphy just about edges it for me for this year. Of course everyone will talk about that catch against Waterford, but his shot stopping in the final and his ability to play like an extra outfield player and pin-point passes makes him the All Star goalie for me.

**2. Cathal Barrett – **A no brainer here, Barrett was probably in line for hurler of the year before the semi but he was back to his ferocious best in the final, making big tackles and driving forward with the ball. This lad will go down as one of the greats if he keeps this up...and I know he will.

**3. James Barry – **his best year in a blue and gold jersey. Strong in the air and on the ground, good stickman and a calm head in the most dangerous area of the field. Stood up to any challenge that came his way this year.

4. Daithi Burke – again a close call between him and Paul Murphy but Burke really came to the fore for Galway in the knockout stages with two massive games and it’s only when we see how good Seamie was in the final do you appreciate the task this guy had in the semi-final.

5. Padraig Walsh – In my opinion one of if not Kilkenny’s best player this year. Offers so much in defence and attack and is most definitely his own man and no longer Tommy’s brother. Class act.

6. Ronan Maher – Won nine aerial battles in his first final at number 6. Has been very good all year for Tipp and his ability to deliver a ball to hand to the forwards is something to be admired. A great year and a great final.

**7. Paudie Maher – **the definition of consistency. Paudie was outstanding this year. Stood up in every game when needed most and that point in the final is something that will go down in the archives.

**8. David Burke – **I said it already this year that this guy was one of the best stickmen in the country and he proved this yet again this year. His performance against Tipp was like the “good lad” in an u-14 game where he was everywhere getting on ball and driving his team forward.

9. Jamie Barron – a very tight call between Brendan Maher and this man. Jamie gets the nod for his consistency throughout the year and two brilliant performance v Kilkenny. Footwork is unreal and ability to bring a ball out of a crowd is second to none. Top midfielder.

**10. Walter Walsh – **really proved himself as no longer a bit-player for Kilkenny and had his best season in the black and amber. Ability to score points out by the side-line and win primary possession made him the standout guy for me this year at 10.

**11. Austin Gleeson – **no explanation needed really. Young Hurler of the year as well, At 11 is where he did his best hurling and caused the most heartache. The Ronaldo of hurling!

**12. Patrick 'Bonner' Maher – **hard work wins games and titles and Bonner is the epitome of this. The lifts he gives to the team and the crowd cannot be over-valued. One of the biggest roars was his point off the hurl in the final.

**13. Richie Hogan – **what can you say that hasn’t been said already about his guy. The quality of his goal in the final got lost in the craziness of those few minutes, but watch it back, off the ground on his left side into the top of the net. Class.

**14. Seamie Callahan – **he’s had some great days in the last few years but the final was his best. True, he scored more in other games but he did it when it mattered most. He walked the walk and stood tallest.  Untouchable in that form.

**15. John McGrath – **coolness personified but at the same time deadly. A serious stickman and not too bad to snap one in the air too. His vision to pick out Bubbles in the semi could only be equalled by big brother Noel!! Great year.

Hurler of the year – Seamie Callahan

**Young hurler of the year – **Austin Gleeson

It was very close call between Seamie and Paudie Maher for Hurler of the Year, but for his Roy of the Rovers performance in the final Seamie gets the nod. Gleeson for Young Hurler of the Year was an easy call. 

Moment of the Year.

Many to pick from. Paudie’s hook against Galway and hit on Joe Canning in the semi, Eoin Murphy’s catch v Waterford, Austin Gleeson’s many moments of magic, Tipp footballers progress throughout the year.

But the standout moment for me was everything the GAA stands for in one image, where Jennifer Malone, a Kilkenny fan commiserates with Paudie Mahony after he missed that free. A picture paints a thousand words and this one told a million for me.

So that’s that for 2016. Liam McCarthy is safe and sound in Tipperary, let’s hope he gets to stay there for a while now. The hurling year was saved by three fantastic semi-finals and a free-flowing All Ireland Final (well done Brian Gavin by the way).

2017 is around the corner and in another few weeks the draw for next years’ championship will be made and we’ll go again. On a personal level I have truly enjoyed writing this column for the GAA.ie and it was an honour to be asked, so a massive thanks to all involved there.

Thanks a million to all you who read along and I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I did trying to give you all an insight of what goes on inside the head and dressing rooms of an inter county player.

So there’s only way to leave ye all and that is to say thanks and of course, ‘Tiobraid Árann Abú’.

See ye in the next cartoon!