'Today's their day' - Kilruane boss O'Kelly savours the moment 

Rugby convert mixes his approach but finds the perfect pitch to guide his side to first Tipp title in 37 years 

SILVER LININGS: Kilruane MacDonaghs manager Liam O'Kelly manager celebrates with the cup after the Tipperary County Senior Club Hurling Championship Final Replay match between Kilruane MacDonaghs and Kiladangan at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Pic: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile

Kilruane MacDonaghs manager Liam O’Kelly was a rugby man long before he took an interest in hurling. But having moved into the parish and with his son, Kian, an All-Ireland U20 winner with Tipperary, hurling has taken hold.

He still brings his rugby know-how to hurling, as much in managing his panel as anything else. Plus, he doesn’t need to be the hurling expert in the room, he says. That’s for the likes of Christy Morgan, his coach, and Christy’s son Craig, a cruciate victim last August. But rather than have him sit in the background on game days, O’Kelly has brought Morgan into his inner circle.