Eimear McGrath: Tipperary not far behind Cork and Galway

The Tipperary forward McGrath insists that the Premier County are among camogie's leading contenders

Clubber is covering live championship matches for 15 county boards this season, with over 2,000 live matches set to be streamed. To find out more, and to get your Clubber subscription, visit clubber.ie. In attendance at the launch was Drom & Inch's Eimear McGrath. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Eimear McGrath is confident that Tipperary are part of camogie's leading pack and has rubbished talk of them being cursed when it comes to winning semi-finals.

A third consecutive Cork-Galway Glen Dimplex All-Ireland decider only underlined the sense of a big two separating itself from the rest of the pack.

But McGrath's Tipp enjoyed a significant win over Cork just this season in the Munster championship.

And while they lost their All-Ireland semi-final rematch with the Rebelettes, Tipp's eighth semi-final defeat in nine seasons, full-forward McGrath reckons the Premier are right there at the forefront of the game.

Speaking at the launch of Clubber's coverage of the club championships, McGrath shook her head when asked if teams like Tipp are a long way off Cork and Galway.

"No, I wouldn't think so," she said. "I think definitely you're looking at four or five teams there in all. Kilkenny were in (the weaker) Group 2 of the Championship but they've come right back up to the top table again.

"So I think there's really nothing between probably those top four or five teams. We've obviously had good outings against those top teams in different competitions.

"The Munster championship match for us against Cork was obviously a big one, that gave us huge confidence.

"You can say what you want about where Cork were at that time of the year but I think any time you beat Cork, you've done it on merit."

As for the conversation around Tipp being cursed when Croke Park comes into view, McGrath hasn't much time for that.

"I suppose the narrative out there is that we're nearly cursed at this stage with semi-finals," said the Drom & Inch attacker. "But I wouldn't buy into that.

"There's so many new girls in and around our panel in the last four or five years. So I don't think there's going to be any of them who are too slow about coming back next year.

"So you're going to be starting out again and you're going to be looking to try to get back to where you were last year. When it comes around again, everyone will be raring to go."

McGrath, who fired crucial scores for Tipp throughout the season, including seven points in the Munster final defeat of Waterford, pointed to teen sensation Caoimhe Stakelum as a particularly exciting performer.

Just out of secondary school, Stakelum made a big impact at senior level this year and netted in the provincial decider.

"I think she's getting her Leaving Cert results here on Friday," said McGrath. "She's a serious talent. We won't be looking forward to coming up against her now in the club championship. She's a great talent but she's so level headed as well."

McGrath returned in 2026 after missing last season with an ACL injury. It was confirmed this week that Galway's All-Ireland final centre-back Ciara Hickey is the latest player to suffer the devastating injury.

"It's well behind me at this stage," said McGrath. "Unfortunately it's becoming more and more prevalent in the game generally. I heard during the week that Ciara Hickey has done hers as well. It's really a huge issue. Ourselves in Tipp, we lost Caoimhe Maher with the same thing in the quarter-final of the All-Ireland.

"It's so disappointing for any player. Until you kind of experience it yourself, you realise then it's a lonely journey.

"It's kind of frightening at this stage. You're hearing more and more people nearly every weekend with different versions of the injury. It's definitely something that needs to be looked into more."