No excuses for Loughmore-Castleiney but manager Kelly confirms Noel McGrath 'bug'

The Tipperary side came up short against Ballygunner on Sunday. 

Noel McGrath of Loughmore-Castleiney after his side's defeat at Walsh Park in Waterford. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Loughmore-Castleiney manager Éamonn Kelly wasn’t claiming mitigation for this heavy defeat but confirmed Noel McGrath had been sick going into this Munster semi-final.

The three-time All-Ireland SHC winner had been seen in discomfort on the way to Walsh Park after his brother Brian had suffered a stomach problem on Saturday.

“He was actually quite sick,” said Kelly of Noel. “We didn’t think he was going to be able to tog out. Some bug, Brian had it yesterday.

“Listen, they’re not excuses. Noel was adamant he wanted to hurl and I’d take half a Noel McGrath any day, to be honest. It’s just something that happens and you just have to live with it. They’re the ups and downs of sports.” 

Kelly believes Ballygunner can claim a second All-Ireland title but pointed to the variables. “They’re capable of going all the way but you just don’t know. On a given day, anything can happen. Weather can play a huge part in it. They’re a cracking hurling side. If they get to play on good pitches, it’ll take a serious hurling side to turn them over.

“They know one another inside out. They’re so comfortable on the ball, they’re able to play it around in triangles non-stop, able to find space and I actually thought they worked quite hard off the ball today.

“They turned us over on a number of occasions. There’s no one point about them, they’re a serious side and you saw the subs that came on, there’s massive quality there as well.” 

Kelly is glad the Loughmore-Castleiney players have another provincial semi-final to look forward to against Éire Óg, Ennis next weekend. “They’re lucky enough that they can come back training Wednesday night and go play a game next weekend. It would be bad to finish a year on a downer like that. They have an opportunity to get it out of their system.”