Noel McGrath gave it everything to be a Tipperary starter

After missing out on Tipperary’s Munster SHC-winning campaign last year, Noel McGrath was hellbent on ensuring he was going to be a starting player in Sunday’s competition opener.

The 25-year-old returned to the Tipperary panel last June after being diagnosed with testicular cancer two months earlier. He made a playing comeback as a scoring substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway.

But he admits not winning a provincial medal last season was disappointing. “I didn’t play any Munster championship and the boys did a serious job then so I was mad to get back in the action. I gave my all for the last few weeks to be out on the field (on Sunday) and thankfully I was. It’s all game on again now for Limerick. There’s going to be 35 lads pushing for places again and that’s the way you want it to be. It’s great to be involved in that.”