As a Clare man from a border town, it's hard for me to be happy with any success Tipperary have had. I sat in Croke Park and shouted for Kilkenny to win the 5 in a row in 2010. I wanted Tipp to lose in every other match they've ever played. It's the way I am, the way I was raised. I can't help it.
In 2010 though, I became a secret fan of one of their players. Noel McGrath, 19 at the time, roasted Brick Walsh for seven points in the All-Ireland semi final. That was Brick in his prime, probably the best centre back in the game. McGrath made a fool of him. I sat along the 45 metre line in the Hogan Stand that day, and watched a masterclass unfold. It was a joy to watch.
A few weeks later, McGrath played a major role in Tipp knocking Kilkenny off their perch, and looked set to become the next star of hurling.
Last April though, the GAA world was shocked to hear he was to undergo treatment for testicular cancer. It was hard to believe someone synonymous with youth and fitness as much as anything else could be going through this. He went away and dealt with it away from the spotlight.
Watch Noel McGrath's story as the @MovemberIreland ambassador & @TipperaryGAA star discusses his fight with cancer https://t.co/VWAU3L5kXs
— The GAA (@officialgaa) November 3, 2015
He was back in the squad less than four months later. He had to rebuild his entire fitness after going through crippling cancer treatment, yet somehow, he was there on the bench for last year's semi final against Galway.
In the midst of one of the best games I've ever seen, and one of the most tense (there was an actual fight between Galway and Tipp fans in the area I was sitting ten minutes into the game), the whole of Croke Park stopped as one to get on their feet and give the returning Noel McGrath the ovation he deserved.
Shivers watching #TIPPvGAL fans unite in giving Noel McGrath a standing ovation & hero's welcome back to @CrokePark
— Siobhán Doyle (@thekickart) August 16, 2015
There was seven minutes to go and the match was a draw. It was an All-Ireland semi final. It wasn't usually the time for sentiment. Yet, everyone stood up. Everyone stopped caring about something as meaningless as a game of hurling, at least for twenty seconds. It was incredibly emotional. It's one of my best memories of Croke Park.
The best part of the day though was Noel McGrath coming on. Huge cheer and standing ovation. Great moment. And a lovely point too.
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) August 16, 2015
A year on, and the recovery in complete. McGrath was instrumental in a year that Tipperary won an All-Ireland beating Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Kilkenny. Even if his younger brother was getting the headlines for most of it.
If you watched the match on television yesterday, you can't have missed McGrath's outstanding display. Michael Duignan wouldn't let you. He may have only a scored one point, but he was involved in everything the Tipp forwards did so brilliantly. The full forward line, which included his brother John, may have scored a ridiculous 2-21 but McGrath provided them with so much perfect ball it's almost unfair the three boys inside get all the stats.
He stood out in an almost perfect Tipperary performance and when he came off in the 70th minute, he received one of the cheers of the day. Maybe not quite the reception of 12 months prior, but it was huge. This was the full circle. An outstanding display in an All-Ireland final and an All-Ireland champion again.
Noel McGrath, a wonderful hurler, a gentleman, and so well loved by his teammates, opponents and hurling fans around the country. 18 months ago, he was suffering from a life threatening illness. Yesterday, he won an All-Ireland for his county alongside his brother, just a couple of hour after another of his brothers captained the All-Ireland winning minor team.
Even this bitter Clare man can't help but be moved by that story.
