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McGrath can't wait to get back to 'normality'

Noel McGrath

Noel McGrath

By Brian Murphy

In the days after Noel McGrath’s return to action following his recovery from testicular cancer, a comic strip did the rounds that beautifully summed up the emotions the Tipperary forward’s appearance at the end of the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway engendered.

The strip depicts Shane Maloney’s last-minute winning point; the Galway players celebrating; a devastated Séamus Callanan on his knees after hitting 3-9 and finishing on the losing side.

It concludes, however, not with the actual ending of the game but with a depiction of McGrath running on to the field eight minutes from the end, along with the words, ‘But some battles you win’.

In other words, McGrath’s return to the field of play was seen as a moment of personal triumph, shared by the 58,000 people in the stadium and those watching at home on TV, quite apart from the actual winning and losing of the game.

The reality, however, was that Tipperary lost the game by a point, their entire season defined by Maloney’s winner in added time. McGrath experienced the sense of disappointment that comes with losing a big game just as keenly as any of his team-mates; the sense of perspective would come later.

“In the immediate aftermath, you are in the dressing room and lads are just gutted. All you are thinking about is there anything you could have done differently on the field that could have changed or made that small difference that would have won it,” McGrath recalls.

“In the weeks and months afterwards to look back and be able to say that I was playing in Croke Park only a few months after the illness was good. Still that hurt and that feeling of not getting over the line was still there.”

Noel McGrath comes on against Galway

Noel McGrath comes on against Galway

Now, nearly five months on, McGrath still struggles to separate the two contrasting emotions. Asked if he looks back on the game as a positive or negative memory, he pauses for a moment and the elite athlete in him wins out.

“Disaster," he says. “It was an All-Ireland semi-final. No matter what, losing an All-Ireland semi-final by a point that way at the end is very disappointing. The management, players – everyone was just gutted.

“Even on a personal side if you look away from it all, yeah great I got to come back and play. But from my own point of view and from the team’s point of view it’s so disappointing to have worked so far and to lose by that small margin.

“But that’s sport and that’s why you come back again to go again in 2016. Try to get back there and get to the top if you can again.

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“It wasn’t for the few days after it that I really realised what happened when I came on, and the cheer and people were good and the support I got was brilliant.”

McGrath has lent his profile to the Movember movement, becoming an ambassador for the foundation which raises awareness for various men’s health issues, and has won widespread praise for the openness with which he dealt with his illness.

However, the Loughmore-Castleiney man is now determined to refocus his energies on hurling with Tipperary and winning a place in new manager Michael Ryan’s first team ahead of the Allianz League opener against Dublin on Saturday night in Thurles.

“I’m just delighted the year is getting going and that I can get back to normality and back training. I got some great support and people have been really good to me, and I really appreciate that,” McGrath adds.

“But I suppose I’m 25 years of age now and you don’t realise how quick your career goes. I’m just really delighted to get back playing, get back to normality and train and play matches and getting with the group of lads five or six nights a week and getting back playing. Hopefully Tipp can be successful again in 2016."

Physically, McGrath looks in supreme shape ahead of the new season, but he admits to heading into 2016 with some doubts in his head having missed so much hurling last year.

“It’s hard to know. I did miss a lot of last year, a lot of tough training. I’m still trying to build myself back to full fitness, to fit in with the team again. So it’s hard to know.

“I’d like to think I’m back up to speed with the rest of them, but time will tell. I’m just looking forward to the challenge ahead, having missed nearly all of last year.

“I’m mad for games, and will be pushing myself as hard as I can to make the 26 for match day, and everyone is in the same boat.

“I suppose last April I wasn’t sure what was going to come of it, where I was going to be, if or when I’d ever get back playing. And I’m just delighted that I am.

“But people have been out for longer than me with different types of injuries, broken arms or broken legs or bad injuries like that, and spent a lot of time. I’m just delighted to be back."


Allianz Hurling League 2016 Launch

Allianz Hurling League 2016 Launch

***In attendance at the launch of the 2016 Allianz Hurling League are David O'Callaghan, Dublin, Kevin Moran, Waterford, Walter Walsh, Kilkenny, and Noel McGrath, Tipperary. Tipperary host Dublin under lights in Semple Stadium, Thurles in the Allianz Hurling League opener this Saturday while Division 1A champions Waterford face All-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Walsh Park on Sunday. Marino Casino, Dublin. ***