Bond forged in dual commitment key for Liam McGrath

Loughmore-Castleiney captain Liam McGrath lifts the Dan Breen Cup last weekend. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Man of the match Liam McGrath says Loughmore-Castleiney's dual heroes are driven on by their unbreakable bond.

That has been forged in weekly hurling and football matches but also in the celebrations that followed last weekend's Dan Breen Cup victory over Toomevara.

They certainly showed no adverse effects in a commanding four-point football final victory over Clonmel Commercials.

"If you win anything in sport, you have to go and celebrate it. That’s why you do it. That’s where the bonds are created," said McGrath.

"We went back to Loughmore Sunday night and we went to Castleiney for a few then on Monday. You have to celebrate these things because of the effort that goes in to get there. If you can’t go and have the craic for two days with the boys, there’s no point doing it at all.

"We’re just creating a bond all year. We’re going to the well every weekend. We know one another inside out.

"Our juniors won yesterday and a few of them lads are good enough to start on this senior team as well. There’s a serious panel of players there that we haven’t had the last few years."

McGrath, who captained Tipperary to the 2011 All-Ireland minor football title, raised the Dan Breen Cup last weekend.

"These days are just unbelievable. It’s our third time to do the double now and you’re probably only at the age now that you realise what it really means.

"It’s such a special achievement and the group of lads to be involved with, it’s unreal.

"These days don’t come around every day so we’ll enjoy this for the next few days."

McGrath referred to the wind as a "hindrance" for both sides but he made the best of it in the first half for a five-point return.

"Thank God we had our kicking boots on today. If you saw us in Templetuohy Friday night, you’d be wondering who was going to kick points for us today. Thankfully when the pressure was on we were able to do it."

Loughmore have four weeks to refocus for a dual Munster push, with a hurling semi-final on November 17 before a football clash on November 24.

"We won’t know what to do with ourselves now for the next few weeks," McGrath chuckles. "We’ll probably have the week off and get back into it next weekend.

"I’d like to get a win in Munster alright to keep the momentum going because it’s not often you get these chances. You want to take them when they come.

"We’re going to work hard for the next four weeks and hopefully be able to put up a good performance in Munster and see where it takes us after that."