Nov 27,2024
A week after illness limited his influence in Loughmore-Castleiney's Munster hurling semi-final defeat to Ballygunner, Noel McGrath was celebrating a major football breakthrough.
The dual star played a central role as the Tipperary champions progressed to a first Munster SFC final in 51 years with a five-point victory over Éire Óg Ennis.
The same bug had also struck his younger brother Brian but he was equally back to flying form, netting a first-minute goal at Cusack Park.
The camp wasn’t back to full health until the eve of their Ennis trip. Corner-back John Ryan got sick the day after losing to Ballygunner but trained on Friday and proved his fitness by charging forward to register a point.
"I’ve been fine since Wednesday. It’s just one of them things. You’re either lucky or unlucky," said Noel McGrath after seeing off Éire Óg.
"It just happened to be on the wrong day but that’s the way it goes. You just have to get on with it. I got back to the field during the week and I was happy enough."
It’ll be well out of the system by the time the Munster final against Dr Crokes rolls around on Sunday week.
Loughmore will be bidding to become just the second Munster club to win both senior hurling and football medals after Cork giants St Finbarr’s.
"It’s a big one. A Munster Club football final is a big occasion. It’s one that we’ll really be looking forward to," added Noel, who was accompanied during the chat by his son, Sam.
"We’ll get ourselves ready to have a good crack off of it. It’s so hard to get to them, when you get there you want to do yourself justice and try and win it.
"Crokes are a top-class side. Everyone knows Dr Crokes and their football heritage. We’ll get ourselves right for that. We’ll enjoy this, a great win, and we’ll look at that during the week."
While the McGrath clan were vital as ever to Loughmore’s performance, it was their substitutes who took the headlines. Ciarán Connolly and Philip O’Connell came off the bench and landed late goals to seal the victpry.
That growing panel strength has been a factor in Loughmore’s sustained success across both codes.
"Whether it’s hurling or football now, you need 20 lads every day and 24-27 every year depending on what way injuries go," said Noel.
"We needed everyone there, like you do every day, and the subs made a big difference.
"It’s great. Philip scored a goal very late and that gave us the cushion right at the end. We’re absolutely delighted. It’s a great day, great result, and we’re buzzing with it."
