Four months after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, Noel McGrath made his return to inter-county hurling when he came off the bench in Tipp's All-Ireland semi-final loss to Galway last month.
In a near fairytale moment, the 24-year-old gave his side the lead late in the game only to see Galway once again regain the advantage.
Speaking as an ambassador for the Movember foundation, McGrath opened up for the first time regarding his illness.
There was just a lump on my testicle. It was just very abnormal. It’s something that you would notice very quickly. I knew straight away that there was something not right.
Post that semi-final loss, Galway manager Anthony Cunningham was seen speaking with McGrath.
In fairness to Anthony, he came and he shook my hand. He just wished me well and said it was great to see me back. He didn't need to do what he did, but he did. It just goes to show the spirit that's in the GAA. We're lucky to have a sport that's so community based.
The Movember Foundation is a movement for men’s health: a global charity raising funds and awareness. They invest in key problem areas to fund breakthrough research and support services. For more information, go to Movember.com.
