Griffin chooses blood ties

GROWING up in Rosslare, he would have been known as a son of Liam Griffin, a man consumed by his passion for hurling and forever associated with the inspirational role he played in Wexford’s 1996 All-Ireland triumph.

Now, Niall Griffin is a personality in his own right, a member of the Irish equestrian team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Greece, a winner in one of the most demanding of all sports.

And like any dutiful parents, Liam will be in Athens with his wife Marry to support him and the team - which of course means that he will miss Wexford’s Guinness All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Cork in Croke Park next Sunday. It’s almost heresy! “Blood being thicker than water, I suppose, we would want to be there,” he says, displaying justifiable pride in the success Niall has made of his career. He still remembers the day he told him that he wouldn’t be able to play for the club under-21 hurlers, because of his ambition to pursue a career as a horseman.