Unbothered Darragh McCarthy will stick to free-taking routine despite outside noise

The Tipperary star was part of the UL team that won the Fitzgibbon Cup on Friday night.

University of Limerick's Darragh McCarthy and Max Hackett. Pic after the Fitzgibbon Cup victory: INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon

Tipperary starlet Darragh McCarthy says he isn’t bothered by the focus on the amount of time he takes to strike frees.

Much of what was discussed in the wake of last Saturday week’s defeat to Cork went in one ear and out the other for the Toomevara man.

Cork manager Ben O’Connor called for a time limit to be put on free-taking, while former Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy criticised the boos McCarthy received from the home crowd in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

On Friday, McCarthy was collecting more silverware as he marked his return to Croke Park for the first time since he scored 1-13 in last July’s All-Ireland final with a Fitzgibbon Cup title as part of the UL team.

The 20-year-old sent over seven frees in the comprehensive win over Mary Immaculate College and his placed ball process remained the same.

He won’t be changing a tried and trusted technique that saw him convert 3-77 placed balls across 13 games in his senior debut season with Tipperary last year.

“I don't even look into it,” McCarthy said of the reaction. “I don't mind any of it, I just try and block it out if I can and tip away at the frees, that's all you can do.

“There's no point in changing. People can say things, I genuinely don’t mind. They can say what they say. I’ll stick to it anyway, hopefully.” 

McCarthy has only started one of Tipperary’s three league games this year as Liam Cahill has been mindful of the amount of hurling the 2025 young hurler of the year is playing at the moment.

The player himself doesn’t consider the load a burden. “I know it's used as a cliché, this privilege word, but it honestly is a privilege to get to play both Fitzgibbon and senior inter-county.

“You’re playing with some of the best hurlers in the country in the Fitzgibbon and it’s an absolute dream to play in a final and win it in Croke Park.

“The load does have to be minded and that comes down to yourself and what you do in your own off time too. You have to look after the body and do the right things.” 

In Dublin on Friday, McCarthy celebrated in the company of his college mates, the likes of Limerick’s Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Aidan O’Connor and Cathal O’Neill.

In Thurles this Saturday, he and Oisín O’Donoghue will be opposing them as they return to the blue and gold. “Ah look sure, that’s it. Once you cross the four white lines, you're in battle again and that's just the reality of hurling nowadays.”