McCarthy prepared for long climb to the top

On the playing fields he featured mostly in Munster, but Leinster is where Teddy McCarthy is cutting his teeth on the management stage.

He was transported to Laois last winter to take their senior hurling reins and the former Cork dual great found himself having to adapt quickly.

“It’s been difficult. I relied totally on the local knowledge at the start from the selectors around me in order to get to know the players,” he said.