John McGrath reveals Tipperary's fairytale turning point

Michael Bolton

At the start of the year, few would have tipped Tipperary to win the All-Ireland Hurling title.

Yet with the help of John McGrath, the Premier county silenced the doubters, defeating Cork in July to reclaim the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

After a couple of disappointing seasons, including early exits, a championship charge looked unlikely. McGrath’s own form hardly suggested otherwise. A serious injury in 2022 limited his game time through 2024.

But he points to their Munster clash with Limerick as a turning point.

"Even before the injury, my form was up and down for a year or two. The club form kept me going. In the back of your mind, you know it’s there.

"I saw very little league time. I wasn’t exactly tearing it up in training either. The lads took a small chance on me coming into that Limerick game. They said, 'we’re putting you in, you’ve been there, you’ve that experience.'

"I probably put too much pressure on myself in that game. It felt like a sliding doors moment. I needed to remind myself, and maybe others, what I was capable of."

McGrath answered in style, scoring seven goals and 16 points from play this season as part of a Tipperary full-forward line that delivered when it mattered most.

That was most evident in the All-Ireland final. Cork led at half-time after a goal just before the break, but Tipperary produced one of the great second-half performances. McGrath scored two goals, tormenting the Cork defence all afternoon.

Just 14 months after finishing bottom of Munster, Tipp were convincing champions – something McGrath admits was hard to take in.

"The manner in which we won it, no one could have dreamt that scenario. There was shock. I knew we were well ahead, but to actually see the score was hard to believe.

"Sport is funny. Everything started to go right for us in that second half, and the exact opposite for Cork. They hit the post, hit the crossbar. Those bits of luck are needed.

"But our lads powered into that last 35 minutes. To save our best 35 minutes for the All-Ireland final – it’s the kind of thing you hope for, but it rarely happens. Unreal."