Tipp kitman Hotpoint: ‘I wouldn’t go back now if they came on bended knee’

Tipperary hurling kitman John ‘Hotpoint’ Hayes admits he’ll find it difficult to watch the county’s hurlers again having been relieved of his duties after almost 30 years of service.

A hugely popular figure throughout hurling since he came into Babs Keating’s Tipp set-up in 1988, Hayes has been inundated with support from inside the game, including a surprise message from Kilkenny’s Jackie Tyrrell.

Heading into Semple Stadium to watch last week’s Tipperary SHC final, Hayes had no idea of the storm about to blow up.