Lucky number seven for captain McGrath

NOEL McGRATH ended his underage hurling career in the best possible style by captaining Loughmore/Castleiney to their first Tipperary U21A HC title when they defeated Burgess in Templederry yesterday.

It was the seventh time of asking for the Tipperary senior star to win an elusive U21 county title with his club, having played in the grade first as a 14-year-old in 2004 prior to the introduction of the current age restrictions.

The St Stephen’s Day success completed a remarkable record for the famed Mid Tipperary dual club as it was the only title in either grade or age group that had eluded them up to yesterday — and what a belated Christmas present it was.