Grogan blow for Tipp

THE economic crisis has cost Tipperary’s senior footballers the services of Seamus Grogan.

Grogan, an electrician, has been forced to leave Ireland to take up employment for six months in Holland.

Tipp manager John Evans said concerted efforts to find work for Grogan at home failed and the player flew out from Cork to take up his new post yesterday.

Grogan had forged an impressive midfield partnership with George Hannigan in recent weeks as Tipperary claimed three points from their last two fixtures against Down and Meath. The Aherlow clubman is a brother of Tipp’s leading marksman Barry, who scored 1-5 at Semple Stadium at the weekend.

Evans knew about Grogan’s employment predicament for some time but decided not to let it affect the rest of the team.

Evans said: “We were trying to get work for Seamus but we were unsuccessful. He’s got a six-month contract and he just had to go and chase the work. He’s a big loss because he was after solving a position and his own position. He was getting into a real work-rate and a level of fitness, but now we will have to resolve the problem again.”

Evans said: “Seamus was emotional on Sunday. He could have gone away with family and friends for a couple of pints over the weekend but he stayed training and playing with the team up to the last. I’m gutted he’s leaving.”

Grogan’s is the second defection from the Tipp panel this year due to the economic crisis as Fethard’s Aidan Fitzgerald left for England at the beginning of the year.