Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath during a event organised by Tipperary GAA sponsor Teneo at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

McGrath looking to feed off Sheedy effect once more

Liam Sheedy and Noel McGrath are inextricably linked.

In 2006, Sheedy sent the Loughmore/Castleiney man into the fray as the first substitute in the All Ireland minor hurling semi-final when Brendan Maher has to limp out of the game.

At the age of sixteen, Liam Sheedy knew there was something special about this player to throw him in at the deep end to make his first appearance at that level, at Croke Park, against Kilkenny, a game he starred in at half back.

Three years later, after McGrath had completed three years at minor level, he was one of a number of that 2006 All Ireland minor winning team to be drafted into the senior set-up by Sheedy. Now ten years on, little has changed with the Portroe man now back in charge for a second time and Noel feels now that he has matured he can appreciate the talents of the Tipperary manager.

I'm that bit older now and you pick up on a lot more things. Liam has gone on and is very successful in his job as well so he has learned an awful lot as well.

Liam is always very fair with you once your train well for him and go along with him. He is great with people and I suppose I was very young when he was there last so I would not have noticed all that much about him,” he said.

 

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