McGrath a perfect example of what can be achieved

A feature of this year’s Allianz Hurling League has been the number of exceptionally talented youngsters coming through and having a real impact.

Several of them will be in action this weekend, such as Niall Burke (Galway) and Danny Sutcliffe (Dublin) this afternoon in the Division 1A relegation final replay in Portlaoise, a host of youngsters for Clare as they face Kilkenny, who themselves have Willie Phelan and Cillian Buckley bursting to impress Brian Cody, in the first of tomorrow’s league semi-finals in Thurles .

Then you look at Cork, who face Tipperary in the second of tomorrow’s semi-finals double-header, Jimmy Barry-Murphy has a new generation of kids with multi-talented midfielder Darren Sweetnam, Conor Lehane, Jamie Coughlan and Damien Cahalane all still U21.

Tipperary’s resurgence a few years ago was fuelled by a major infusion of new blood, all then U21. One of those players is Noel McGrath and if there is any player in a position to advise today’s youngsters on how to maintain their current rate of progress, it’s him.

He’s only 21, yet already he has played in three All-Ireland senior hurling finals, two minor finals and an U21 final. On an individual level he has also collected two All Star awards and was named Young Hurler of the Year in 2009. And still he continues to grow, still he continues to improve, a linchpin of the Tipperary attack.

So, Noel’s advice to all the new tyros?

“It’s different for everyone but the main thing is to persevere, stay at it, keep training hard. You have to really want it too.

“I was lucky in that a few of us came through together, Paraic [Maher], Brendan [Maher] and those. The U21 team was going well. The senior team was going well and that made it a little easier for us.

“But we enjoyed doing it, too, and I suppose that’s the most important thing of all, you have to enjoy it no matter who you’re playing for. I love going training, meeting all the lads, having the craic with them. Keep yourself grounded, keep putting in all the hard work and you never know when you’ll get the break.

“You look at Galway, Cork, Clare, Limerick this year, the players coming through — big games again this weekend, there’s no better place for a young lad to be if he has ambitions about playing hurling at the highest level. Enjoy it, look forward to it, that’s the main thing.”

Another thing, says Noel — no matter how young you are, take a back seat to no one.

“If you’re good enough you’re old enough, that’s the way the game is going. Every player in the county wants to play inter-county, that’s the big ambition from the time you start playing, but there’s only room for 30 on the panel.

“If you’re lucky enough to make it that far you’re going to do everything you can to keep the jersey; then you want to make the starting 15 and after that, hold onto your place. That has to be the ambition — if not, there’s something wrong.”

Nerves can be a problem; deal with it, says Noel, it’s part of the programme.

“Every fella gets a bit nervous before the big games and some days the occasion will get to you more than others. The thing is not to get too caught up in it.”

All those matches can also have a detrimental effect, however, and the danger of burnout is greatest among those who — like Noel himself — are talented in both hurling and football.

“My birthday is December 17 so I just missed out on another year of U21 and already I notice the difference. The last few years I was playing U21 club hurling and football, senior club hurling and football, U21 and senior hurling with Tipperary — this year it’s just the senior grade and that makes a big difference.

“I’m not complaining though, I was very lucky to get what I got out of U21 — even last year we managed to win the county U21 hurling title.”

Six McGraths on that Loughmore-Castleiney team, including Noel’s younger brother John and first-cousin Liam, who were both on the Tipperary team that won the All-Ireland minor football title last year; a number of cousins also.

A family dynasty building, and those youngsters will surely benefit from watching up close how Noel has handled the jump to senior ranks. Dedicate yourself, but don’t make hurling into a chore.

“I’m doing a BA in UCD [History & Geography] and you have to pay attention to your studies too. A lot of people are out of work now so it’s important to get your degree. It can be difficult at times with all the travelling, you try to make sure that anything you have to do is done before four or five on the Tuesday and Thursday evening.

“But those kinds of sacrifices are being made all over the country by fellas from every county, lads having to travel long distances to training and not every one of those with the top counties either. We play hurling for the love of it, you don’t mind the long drive down to training, especially these days with the evenings stretching out, the championship coming around. Those are just the sacrifices you have to make and I have no problem making them.”