Gardiner's world

John Gardiner believes that retaining the All-Ireland title could come down to the smallest detail. Michael Moynihan met him, and received a hurling tutorial.

WHEN a Na Piarsaigh mentor noticed John Gardiner alone in the club ball alley one evening, striking a sliotar into the same spot over and over, curiosity eventually overcame him. He asked Gardiner what was going on.

“I had this shot in mind all day in work,” said Gardiner. “I was wondering if it’d be unreturnable.”