Nine of the best for consistent McCormack

By Shane Brophy

It was a ninth county senior hurling championship success for Thurles Sarsfields goalkeeper Patrick McCormack, 21 years after his first but this feels “probably better” than the previous eight.

“It’s been nine long years, and for the older lads in the team, we probably thought about giving it up at different stages. We’re at that age. I’m so glad today that we stuck at it. You’re just training for days like today.

“To get over the line against a good Moycarkey team, you’d have to pay tribute to them. I know most of them lads from school. I actually taught 14 of the 15 so I know they’re made of good stuff. Their day will come as well.”

In a club with such a storied tradition who have won one in every four of Tipperary senior hurling championships, going nine years without one is akin to a famine as captain Conor Stakelum described and bring with it its pressures McCormack added.

“I don't think there's pressure with it, but I think expectation, that can drive the best out in people as well,” McCormack added.

“The young lads there, they embraced it, they drove us on this year. It's been brilliant.

“We're very lucky in Thurles. Dúrlas Óg have had some great teams coming through. The likes of Euan, Rossie, even some of the older lads that are in their early 20s made their breakthrough this year. They've served their apprenticeship at Premier Intermediate and they've brought great energy and it's lifted the rest of the older lads to new heights, so it's been great.”

So, will McCormack at age “30 plus VAT” come back next year to have a go at the perfect ten?

“There's lads with… Mickey Byrne has 14. Jimmy Doyle has 10 or 11. So, having nine… I think Denis is up to eight now, Pa Bourke as well, it's not a big deal. It's not something I thought about but it is nice to getting one in the pocket.”