Bittersweet emotion for Tipperary exile Colin O’Riordan

Colin O’Riordan admits he went through the whole range of emotions watching Tipperary book their place in a first All-Ireland SFC semi-final since 1935.

The Premier County’s AFL export with the Sydney Swans was naturally elated to watch his former colleagues seal a sensational Croke Park quarter-final success against Galway but sad too he wasn’t there to share in the joy.

O’Riordan watched the nine-point victory on his iPad in the early hours of the morning. The game threw in at 1am Sydney time and O’Riordan had his alarm set for 12.55 before settling down in his bed to watch the seismic events unfold.