Noel McGrath's class endures 

By John Harrington

Two of the biggest cheers of the day from the home supporters at Sunday’s epic Munster SHC clash between Tipperary and Limerick at FBD Semple Stadium were to greet Noel McGrath’s introduction as a substitute and then hail a brilliant point he scored a minute later.

That score from the left sideline was just one of many memorable moments he produced in his time on the pitch, as his ability to win ball and use it cleverly and creatively brought his team back into the match just when it looked like Limerick had taken the initiative.

It was fitting that McGrath should produce such an influential on the day he equalled Brendan Cummins’ record of 73 championship appearances for Tipperary and a testament to his ability that at the age of 34 and in his 17^th championship season his unique skill-set still marks him out as something very special.

Based on how well he played against Limerick, it seems certain he will set a new Tipperary record for championship appearances against Cork on Sunday.

Former Tipperary defender, David Kennedy, has hurled alongside McGrath on countless occasions with their club Loughmore-Castleiney, and has a keen appreciation of why he is such an enduring talent.

“Noel has such a cool head,” Kennedy told GAA.ie. “Always very, very composed. He does the simple things very, very well. His first touch is nearly always perfect. Nearly always makes the right decision with the ball. Very rarely loses the ball.

“When Noel McGrath has possession, Tipperary keep possession. Some lads would get it and lose it. Not Noel. When the ball is in Noel's hand, Tipp have it. It's not going to be a wasted ball.

“It was just a joy to watch him play the other day and moving so well and so freely. There were talks he had broken his thumb a few weeks ago, so I was kind of surprised to hear that he could feature against Limerick and then to play so well. It was very satisfying for everybody and for Noel himself, no doubt.”

Those who have hurled alongside McGrath with Tipperary have a keen appreciation of what he brings to the table.

For his long-time team-mate, Paudie Maher, it’s not just the magic in his wrists that have made McGrath such a generational talent, it’s the game intelligence that was so evident again at the weekend.

“He's been unbelievable,” says Maher. “He came in with me when we went in together in the winter 2008 onto the panel. Ever since then, he's been a leader. He can do so many different jobs for the team.

“Even now with his age and the miles he has on the clock there's no doubt he can do a job for you somewhere on the pitch.

“There's a lot of younger lads there now, but you still need that bit of experience and even to have him in and around the group, you can see how Liam Cahill is so mad to hold onto him.

“If he wasn't going to be able to offer something, he wasn't going to go in and give up all his time. He offers a lot still because he’s so shrewd.

“The game is after getting so intense, so quick. We've seen it the last few years, but Noel's mind is thinking ahead of most players in this country as regards to the hurling match, the hurling ball and where it's going. His speed of mind is as good as anyone in the country.”

You couldn’t meet a nicer, humbler person off the pitch than McGrath, but behind his quiet-spoken nature is the steel of a seriously driven competitor.

“Noel is part of a unique group of players, the TJ Reids, the Patrick Horgans, that group, and they just don't last as long as they have without having a certain personality about them,” says Kennedy.

“Longevity is one thing, but it's the discipline to keep yourself at that level is what sets these guys apart. To do that you have to sacrifice so much and you have to live a certain lifestyle and to balance everything.

“It takes a certain personality to do what Noel has done and to achieve what Noel has achieved. Yeah, he is driven. Quietly driven. There's no chest-thumping or banging hurleys off tables with Noel. He'll say the right thing and out you go.

“The thing about Noel is that he'll say it and then he'll do it. He's a leader on the field and off the field as well. He leads by example which is a great trait of a leader.”

Tipperary have produced some great hurlers over the years, but few as popular as McGrath.

The connection between him and the county’s supporters was copper-fastened in 2015 when they gave him a standing ovation after he came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway just four months after undergoing surgery for testicular cancer.

“Yeah, he comes with a history as well with his illness and how he came back from that and I think it's his personality as well,” says Kennedy. “He's very accommodating and active on the school talks scene. He'd be very obliging to different groups.

“He hasn't forgotten that he is a role model for younger people and people look up to him and respect what he does. I think that's why people engage with him.

"And, of course, he's such a stylish hurler. He's not going to be buzzing around the field, it's his class that endears people to him.

“There's never a dirty stroke out of him either. You never see Noel being caught up in any controversy or red cards or yellow cards or off the ball stuff. He's well able to look after himself but there's none of that baggage that comes with Noel and that's why people like him.

“He's just a very decent guy from a very decent family.”