McGrath relishing the diet of action

NOEL McGRATH insists he has no problems with the hectic playing schedule facing himself and his Tipperary hurling teammates over the coming weeks.

McGrath features for the Tipperary U21 hurlers in the Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21HC semi-final against Antrim on Saturday afternoon, just a fortnight before the county square off against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior decider.

Success in the U21 semi-final will see Tipperary face an All-Ireland final date in that grade just seven days after the Kilkenny clash. The decision of the Tipperary county board to postpone club matches next weekend does offer McGrath some respite, but he still declares that he is enjoying the regular action.

“You’d rather be playing than not,” he said. “If you weren’t playing it means you’re gone. At this time of year all you want to be doing is hurling and competing for honours at the highest level, so thankfully we are. You’d rather be playing matches at this time of the year than be at home watching telly and doing nothing.

“The U21, we have our minds set on that for this week ahead. We (Loughmore-Castleiney) were down to play Cashel in the county championship on Sunday but they were pulled last night. It was up to the management and the county board to call. The players have no say in that. Whatever was called by the county board or management we’d go by.”

McGrath admitted he enjoyed the centre-forward role he was employed in for last Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Waterford.

“It was something new for me going out there. I was just lucky enough everything went well on the day. We got the goals at the right time, Eoin and Larry popped up with the goals so luckily we came through. I had played on the wing or midfield but centre is one of the places I never had before. Luckily enough everything went well on the day.”

Tipperary have high ambitions of triumphing at U21 level this season after the disappointment of last year’s Munster U21 exit against Waterford but McGrath is not looking past the challenge of Antrim this Saturday.

“We went down to Waterford last year and we got comprehensively beaten. We had no excuses, they bet us out the gate. It was a big disappointment this year but thankfully we’ve won Munster this year and we’ve a big task ahead of us now Saturday. We won’t be underestimating Antrim.”