Keeping things pitch perfect at the home of hurling

I retired two weeks ago from Semple Stadium. Even though you’re officially the groundsman, there’s a lot to do that doesn’t involve marking out the 65s or looking after the playing surface.

For instance, something a lot of people don’t realise is that the players often need to make a quick visit back to the dressing room after they’ve gone out for the warm-up.

It’s not because they’ve forgotten anything — usually it’s to the toilet. They all know the importance now of taking on water, and they’re sculling that into them all day long when they’re playing matches, and then you have the tension of the occasion, when the importance of the game hits them... so it’s no surprise that they have to head back in before the game begins at all.