Special moments for reborn John

By Stephen Barry

John McGrath reckons Liam Cahill took something of a calculated gamble by throwing him in for the Munster Championship opener against Limerick.

The 2016 All-Star had started just one championship game under Cahill, his very first as manager in 2023, and only appeared off the bench for two of their four games last summer.

Indeed, he sat through Tipperary’s final two league fixtures this spring without getting the call to come on.

Between a persistent Achilles injury and form, the last time McGrath had netted a brace of goals in championship action was in 2017 against Dublin.

This year, he has done so three times in eight successive starts, crowning that run with 2-2 to decide the All-Ireland final.

His tally across eight games is 7-16. No player has scored more from play this season.

“It's been a great year,” reflected McGrath.

“I couldn't put the last few years all down to a bad injury. The form wasn't great for a while before that as well.

“The break from playing that time just got the body to recover a bit. It took a while after to really get going.

“But no, some year, just thrilled to be back stuck in the middle of it. It's unreal to be just toughing it out there with lads and testing yourself. That's what everyone wants to do.”

His club form for Loughmore/Castleiney has been immense, so maybe McGrath, who turns 31 on Monday, just needed to get that break at county level.

“I played very little in the National League this year. I came on a couple of times and started one game,” he continued.

“They took a chance with me in some ways in the first round of championship. Since then, I didn't look back.

“You just get some breaks on the day and you kick on from there. It's small margins at this level. Very small margins.”

Was proving people wrong a motivating factor?

“You do have them thoughts. You don't bring it out too much. There has to be some part of it that hurts you a little bit, or that you find frustrating or hard, when you're used to playing and competing and being relatively successful.

“Then, not being in the team at times, it's tough. You want to prove people wrong. You want to get back and show people what you're able to do.”

It’s been two thirtysomethings and a teenager on the inside line, and McGrath reckons the infusion of youth has reinvigorated the team.

“A lot of lads have remarked on it. It is infectious. We’ve had a few middling years, and they know no different to winning and competing at under-age at the end of championships.

“Sometimes you just need something like that to give an extra little bit of impetus to lads.”

At full-time, McGrath raced over to celebrate with his older brother, Noel, before soon being joined by the younger sibling, Brian.

“Half the parish ended up out there for a finish! You have to really enjoy them moments,” he said.

“For Noel, with (his son) Sam there as well, it made it extra special for him. For us as well, it's great to have them. Sam was there, and our nieces, our sister’s older girl, was there as well.

“It's hard to get things like that. When the time comes around, they're special moments.”