John McGrath on taking chance: 'You just get some breaks and you kick on a bit from there'
The three-time All-Ireland winner is in line for a second All-Star after scoring 7-16, including 2-2 in Sunday's final, and was ever present for all eight of the county's SHC games.
However, he started just one National League game and came off the bench three times. He didn't appear in the last couple of Division 1 outings and at that stage his excellent championship campaign couldn't have been envisaged.
'I played very little in the National League this year,' said McGrath. 'I came on a couple of times and started one game maybe. They took a chance with me in some ways in the first round of championship.
'Since then, I probably didn't look back. You just get some breaks maybe on that day and you kick on a bit from there. It's small margins at this level. Very small margins, I suppose.'
The best club player in the county for several years, McGrath's performances for Loughmore-Castleiney have been outstanding but bringing it to inter-county level following his ankle issues required patience from player and management.
'I couldn't put the last few years all down to bad injury, I suppose. The form wasn't great for a while before that as well. But no, I think maybe even just the break that time, the break from playing, just got the body to recover a bit again.
'And it took a while, maybe after, to really get going. But no, some year, just thrilled to be back stuck in the middle of it. It's unreal to be just toughing it out there with lads and testing yourself. And that's what everyone wants to do.'
Not that he would have spoken about it too loudly but McGrath, who turns 31 next week, was fuelled by the idea of proving people wrong.
'There has to be some part of it probably that hurts you a little bit maybe. Or that you find frustrating or hard when you're used to playing and competing and being relatively successful.
'And then to maybe not being in the team at times like it is, it's tough. Any good sportsman that you have a bit about yourself, you do. You want to prove people wrong. You want to get back and show people what you're able to do.'
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