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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
GAA apologise to Kilkenny for scoreboard error in All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary
Kilkenny have received an apology from the GAA for the scoreboard error in the closing stages of their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Tipperary earlier this month. Various stakeholders in the county have been informed of the correspondence from Croke Park, which expresses regret for the mistake that impacted the conclusion of the game that Tipperary won by two points. Kilkenny and Tipperary were of the understanding that the latter were four points ahead after Noel McGrath's 70th minute point attempt. The shot was waved wide but the scoreboard counted it as a point. Following a Jordan Molloy point in the second minute of additional time, Kilkenny went in search of what they thought was a required goal to force extra-time when they were in fact only two points behind. Kilkenny, it is understood, wrote to Croke Park seeking clarification about the matter although a replay was never in question. The county's officials have refused to comment publicly on the matter and Tipperary manager Liam Cahill complimented the county's dignified stance. 'Like ourselves, if Kilkenny don't win it on the field, they ain't going to bring it to the boardroom, that's for sure.' On the evening of the game, the GAA released a statement acknowledging the error. "The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30. 'The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score. The CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) is awaiting the full referee's report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred." Speaking last week, the GAA's national match officials manager Donal Smyth said the error was down to a combination of factors. "It was a mixture of stuff. The time of the game probably didn't help. So at 69 minutes we had a Kilkenny sub, at 70 minutes the ball went wide, we had a Tipperary sub at the same time. "We didn't notice the scoreboard had changed in relation to that (McGrath's wide). Then the difficulty is we didn't get a break in play to stop the game to check the thing. "We've changed our processes last week and our protocols around that, so it's something we just have to work on." In the aftermath of the game, former GAA president Nickey Brennan said his native Kilkenny as well as Tipperary were due an apology. This past weekend, Kilkenny great Henry Shefflin spoke on The Sunday Game about how 'baffling' the communication was around the controversy. He added: "There hasn't been much noise about it and it seems it's just moved on'.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Noel McGrath addresses retirement speculation amid joyous scenes at homecoming for Tipperary's All-Ireland heroes
TIPPERARY legend Noel McGrath opted to plead the fifth when it comes to his prospects of landing a fifth All-Ireland SHC medal. McGrath enhanced his status as one of the Premier's all-time greats by taking his tally of Celtic Crosses to four in 2 Semple Stadium was the setting for a joyous homecoming on Monday evening 2 Brothers Brian and John are also part of the Premier panel But the three-time All-Star, who turns 35 in December, is remaining tight-lipped on the likelihood of returning in 2026 to chase one more. Tipp celebrated their wonderful success with Liam MacCarthy On whether he will play for Tipp again at the famous stadium, McGrath said: 'I'd love it but we'll have to wait and see what happens. "I'd love to be able to give it a go and have a rattle off it next year. But we'll go back to the club over the next few months and we'll battle it out against each other there and see what happens.' Read More On GAA Fifteen years since he tasted Liam MacCarthy Cup glory for the first time, McGrath became a four-time winner In the history of Tipp hurling, only 12 men have now won more All-Ireland medals than the 2009 Young Hurler of the Year, who came off the bench and hit the final score to complete the rout of the Rebels. McGrath will soon turn his attention back to club duty as dual champions Loughmore-Castleiney look to defend their county senior hurling and football titles. On the possibility of calling it a day, he said: 'Over the last number of years, at the end of every year, you do think about it. Most read in GAA Hurling "When you're feeling good about it and when you're enjoying it, it's hard to step away. "When you're gone, you're gone. You're not going to come back at my age when it's over. Ronan Maher pays tribute to Dillon Quirke after Tipperary GAA win All-Ireland final 'So I'm delighted I've been able to contribute over the last number of years and especially to be able to be part of it this year. "Who knows into the future? There's no point in me saying here now what I know I'm going to do. "I'd love to stay playing forever but I know that can't happen. We'll see in time.' While Tipp partied in Thurles, the Cork hurlers
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tipperary star hailed an inspiration ten years after cancer diagnosis
GAA supporters have hailed inspirational Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath for his outstanding All-Ireland display, a decade after his cancer diagnosis. The sporting hero was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2015 and had surgery just four days afterwards. On Sunday, Noel was accompanied by his brothers John and Brian for the Tipperary squad which defeated Cork in an electrifying second half of hurling. In a touching moment, the hurler also netted one of the scores which assisted the Premier County in triumphing over the Rebels. RTÉ pundit Donal Óg Cusack expressed his respect for Noel's resilience and courage, reports RSVP Live. He said: "When Noel McGrath comes into my mind, there is one thing I want to say. "Ten years ago that man was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Ten years ago. "And everybody within the hurling world would have been given a shock by it. "Ten years later, he is back here and is one of the main people with two brothers playing. "What an inspiration him and his family are for hurlers all over the country." Spectators at home were equally impressed by Noel's perseverance and flocked to social media to commend him and his brothers. "Great performance by John and fitting that Noel gets a point too... great hurlers," one supporter commented. Another said: "That'll be one proud Mammy of those boys!" "Iconic. Memories for life," a third supporter enthused. Whilst a fourth said: "Hang it in the Louvre." In a 2015 interview, Noel revealed that he initially mistook a lump for swelling from a hurling injury. "You would notice it very quickly, and I knew straight away that something wasn't right," he shared on RTÉ's Up For The Match. "I waited for a week or two to get it checked. I was hoping it might have been a knock I picked up in a match. "It all happened so fast. It took a while to realise what was actually going on, because of the shock of it all. Even though I thought about what it might have been, once you're told what it is, your body just sinks. "It's just that word that is associated with it, that just knocks you back. But there were good people around me, and they helped me through it."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Noel McGrath savours fourth All-Ireland with son in his arms as Tipperary legend reflects on epic 17-season journey
HIS second child is due in October, yet Tipperary's Noel McGrath continues to outrun Father Time. A senior debutant with In 2019, McGrath landed his third All-Ireland SHC medal. Advertisement 2 Noel McGrath and his son celebrate with the Liam MacCarthy cup on Sunday 2 Tipp saw off Cork in Sunday's decider at Croke Park in Dublin Tipp failed to win a Championship game last season, which caused his chances of adding a fourth to appear slim. But, accompanied by his two-year-old son Sam, McGrath made his way back up the steps of the Hogan Stand again on Sunday after the He said: 'I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be able to bring him to Croke Park. To win an All-Ireland with him is unreal. 'That will be something that I'll remember forever and that I have forever. Advertisement read more on gaa 'In time, I suppose he'll see all the pictures from it, he won't remember it but he'll have the memories and all those pictures. It's special for me to be able to do that with him.' McGrath became an All-Ireland winner for the first time when Tipperary foiled Kilkenny's five-in-a-row bid in 2010. He also bagged his second All-Star award on the spin. Not bad for a teenager. Speaking at the Grand Hotel in Malahide on the morning after the Premier were crowned champions for the 29th time, the Loughmore-Castleiney stalwart said: 'I was 19 in 2010, just starting college in UCD. 'I suppose it's a long way from college in UCD, it's a different story. But it's great and I love it. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling 'And to be able to have my son there yesterday was probably one of the greatest things I could have done and I lifted the Liam MacCarthy with him in my arms.' On a day when his younger brother John played a starring role by firing 2-2, McGrath came off the bench and put the icing on the sweet victory by hitting the Premier County's last point. Liam Cahill speaks to RTE after Tipperary GAA win All-Ireland final He reflected: 'To get on the field and to get involved was unreal. To be able to get that score at the end was a great feeling. It was just nice to be part of it. As I said after the semi-final, it never gets old. 'As long as you're able to do it and to have days like this, it would keep anyone in good form and looking to do it again. It's great, it's unreal, it's unbelievable.' Advertisement After regrouping following a woeful 2024 season, Tipperary also had to atone for a pair of heavy defeats to Cork in this year's Munster SHC and National League final. With that in mind, Sunday's may have been the most satisfying win to date. McGrath said: 'It's hard to know. I'll sit down in a couple of weeks and think it out. Right now it is, because it's in the moment and it's such a great feeling. 'Who knows which is the best one? It's hard to decide which is the best or how one is better than the other. Advertisement 'They're all great. They all have their own different stories and their own different meanings. Yesterday was no different.' McGrath has now been on the go at senior inter-county level for 17 seasons. According to him, if the mind is willing, the body will follow. He explained: 'With the way the thing has gone nowadays with S&C, if you're willing to put in the work, you'll get your body right. "It's the head more than anything. You have to be willing to get yourself up and go training every week. Advertisement That's probably the hardest part — if you're able to do that and if you're mentally able to do it. 'Because physically, with the way everything has gone, people are keeping themselves fit going to the gym, even if you're not playing sport. 'But mentally, I've been really, really enjoying it. I never really had that evening where you're dragging yourself out to training. You'd be looking forward to it and that for me is the part that really keeps you going, that you're not feeling it as a drag. 'I enjoyed every minute of it. And when you have an ending like this, it's hard not to enjoy it as well.' Advertisement The crucial win in Ennis that effectively ended Clare's reign as All-Ireland champions was the only game that McGrath started in this victorious campaign. But on his role as an impact sub, he said: 'Everyone wants to play and I'm no different. "I'd love to be starting. But there are 38 lads on our panel that would love to start and you have to trust the management that what they're deciding is the right thing for the team. "I go in training and burst myself every night to be trying to get on that 15. And if you're not on it, you want to be one of the ones that come on. Advertisement 'I'm no different to anyone else and when I'm 50 years of age, I'll still want to play. 'That's just the nature of it. You just accept that the management make their decisions and that's what you have to go with.' ROLE CALL On Tipp's roll of honour, McGrath has now overtaken many of his contemporaries who were key contributors to his county's success of 2019. Greats such as Séamus Callanan and Pádraic Maher signed off as three-time All-Ireland winners. Advertisement McGrath said: 'There's no point in saying I didn't know that if we won yesterday, getting to four I'd say was the first time since 1965 or '71 that someone has done it. 'I live hurling and I know a lot about the history of Tipperary so I would have been aware of that and now that's happened, it's a great feeling and I'm delighted to be one with four. 'There are a lot of lads with three, a few with two and more with their first now so to be in that category is unreal.'
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
'One of the greatest things I could have done' Noel McGrath on landmark win
There are now only 12 Tipperary hurlers ahead of Noel McGrath on the county's list of All-Ireland medalists. Winning his fourth last Sunday moved him one clear of his contemporaries, Brendan Maher, Seamus Callanan, Patrick Maher, Padraic Maher, all of whom have retired since the previous All-Ireland in 2019. The 34-year-old is the first from the county to win a fourth medal since Mick Burns, Sean McLoughlin and John McKenna achieved it in 1965 and, of the 12 that have won more, only Donie Nealon and Tony Wall (five each) are still with us. John Doyle leads the way with eight followed by his namesake Jimmy on six, and then there is a cluster on five. 'I didn't know that, that there was only 12 lads but it's a nice honour,' says McGrath. 'There's no point in saying that I didn't know that if we won, getting to four I'd say was the first time since '65 or '71 that someone has done it. 'I live hurling and I know a lot about the history of Tipperary so I would have been aware of that and now that's happened, sure it's a great feeling and I'm delighted to be one with four, there's a lot of lads with three and a few with two and more with their first so to be in that category is unreal.' McGrath will sit down in a few weeks to sift through this latest success and weigh it up against the others, but the fact that he was able to share the moment with his son, Sam, who turned two last March gives this one a head start. He and his wife, Aisling, are expecting a second child in October. 'I was 19 in 2010, yeah, just starting college in UCD and I suppose it's a long ways from college in UCD. It's a different story but it's great and I love it and to be able to have my son there was probably one of the greatest things I could have done and I lifted the Liam MacCarthy with him in my arms. 'I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be able to bring him to Croke Park. To win an All-Ireland with him is unreal. That will be something that I will remember forever and that I have forever. 'I suppose he'll see all the pictures from it, he won't remember it, but he'll have them memories and all those pictures. It's special for me to be able to do that with him.' Tipperary's Noel McGrath celebrates with his son Sam. (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) With Tipperary falling well off the pace after the 2019 All-Ireland, a fourth medal seemed a long way off for McGrath, particularly after last year's wipeout, and he has repeatedly flirted with retirement. 'Over the last number of years, at the end of every year, you do think about it. When you're feeling good about it and when you're enjoying it, it's hard to step away, because when you're gone, you're gone. You're not going to come back at my age. So I'm delighted I have been able to contribute over the last number of years and especially to be able to be part of it this year. 'Who knows into the future? There's no point in me saying here now what I know I'm going to do. I'd love to stay playing forever but I know that can't happen. We'll see in time. I'll go back to the club and see how that goes over the next few months.' His role was different this year as he was largely used as an impact sub, though it's not something that he resigned himself to. 'Everyone wants to play and I'm no different. I'd love to be starting out there but there's 38 lads in our panel that would love to start and you have to trust the management, that what they're deciding to do is the right thing for the team. 'I go in training and burst myself every night to try and be on that 15 and if you're not on it, you want to be one of the ones coming on so I'm no different than anyone else. When I'm 50 years of age I'll still want to play, that's just the nature of it. You just accept that the management make the decision and that's what you have to go with.' If McGrath gets to five medals, only the two Doyles would sit ahead of him on Tipp's roll of honour. How about it next year then? 'We'll see, we'll see, I'd love it but we'll have to wait and see what happens. I'd love to be able to give it a go and have a rattle off it next year again but, as I said, we'll go back to the club over the next few months and we'll battle it out against each other there and see what happens.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
