25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tipp star had same bizarre preparation for All-Ireland final as World Cup winner
Tipperary goalkeeper Rhys Shelly has revealed the unique preparation he had for the All-Ireland final.
Shelly, 24, was an integral part of a Tipp team that defied expectations to go all the way to the final this year and beat hot favourites Cork to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
The Moycarkey–Borris clubman is still on cloud nine and doesn't intend on coming down anytime soon.
He told Tipp FM: "It's still hard to believe that we do have it [Liam MacCarthy], to be honest.
"Talking over there, I said the homecoming will help it settle in. It means everything.
"Someone said it to me, doing all the walks beforehand and time it cut to me, I was just smiling.
"Just enjoy no point getting too bogged down in things - it's hurling. We're amateurs at the end of the day. If you don't enjoy it, there's no point playing it.
"Just enjoying every minute of it."
Shelly was understandably nervous ahead of the biggest match of his career last weekend.
But the goalkeeper seemingly took inspiration from Italian football great Andrea Pirlo.
"The day before is probably the worst for me, the waiting around," Shelly said.
"I was playing Ultimate Team on FIFA, the head was kind of gone! I don't know if it was good prep..."
Midfield maestro Pirlo revealed in his autobiography that he spent the afternoon playing video games before playing the 2006 World Cup final.
Pirlo said: "I spent the afternoon of Sunday, 9 July 2006 in Berlin sleeping and playing the PlayStation. In the evening, I went out and won the World Cup."
