'I have to be showing my best form': John McGrath on fighting his way back into favour with Tipp

GLORY DAYS: John McGrath celebrates Tipperary's All-Ireland win at Croke Park. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Reigning Hurler of the Year John McGrath reckons the only way back into the Tipperary team is by impressing boss Liam Cahill in training.

For the second season running, experienced McGrath has been held largely in reserve throughout Tipp's League campaign.

Starting just one Division 1A game in 2025 didn't prevent McGrath from memorably taking the Championship by storm and he won a third All-Ireland medal.

But the Loughmore-Castleiney man had hoped to kick on at the beginning of 2026 and to be a regular starter again.

He's only come on three times as a sub so far this term ahead of Sunday's penultimate round trip to Waterford.

Speaking at the announcement of Comfort Keepers as the official Community Impact Partner of the GAA/GPA, McGrath said it's not as simple as just putting his case for inclusion to Cahill.

"Well you have to make sure that you have a case going to any manager!" responded McGrath. "It's not a case of just being there training and wondering why you're not playing.

"I know people see games at the weekends and they'd be wondering why isn't this lad or that lad getting a chance?

"We train maybe two times a week, other than the match, so that's where you build your case for inclusion. If you feel you're hitting the levels and maybe still not getting a look in, then I think they're quite approachable that way.

John McGrath at the announcement of a new three-year partnership with Comfort Keepers. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

"Generally the team picks itself in training. You have to make sure you're showing your best form. It's kind of a thing where you have to make them pick you - you can't just expect to be thrown in.

"You have to be hitting the levels to make sure that you're picked. You have to try to give them no option but to play you."

McGrath blasted 7-16 from play in last year's Championship, and starred on All-Ireland final day, but said his start to 2026 hasn't been plain sailing.

"I was probably a little bit later back which probably led into some of that (not being selected)," he said. "A little bit of illness and things have probably derailed me slightly as well but, as I said, there's a competitive panel there and everyone is trying to get in for minutes."

Tipp won their first two League games before losing to Cork and Limerick. The defeat to Munster champions Cork stung but being hammered by Limerick in Thurles was even more concerning.

"It probably gives a reality check of what can happen," said McGrath. "You obviously don't want that as such. But it just goes to show, if you are that little bit off it, teams are going to punish you. It's very unforgiving. 

"We need to make sure in our last couple of games that we can say that (performance against Limerick) was a once-off. But it's up to us to do that. If you have a couple of those performances, it's a real worry. Whereas one of them, you can say, 'Okay, certain things went wrong'. 

"But you can't let a pattern develop."

The bigger picture is that Cahill has experimented significantly, using 32 different players across those four games.

McGrath acknowledged there's been 'more of a microscope' on Tipp this year too, as a result of their All-Ireland win.

And he said opposition coaching teams have probably been 'figuring out certain things' about Tipp and 'targeting you in different areas'.

Tipp are currently locked on four points in Division 1A with Galway, Kilkenny and Waterford, ahead of rock bottom Offaly.

"Depending on how the League finishes up, to get into a League final things would probably have to go quite well for us," said McGrath.