All-Ireland champions Tipperary must now 'embrace' a different challenge

As they did last year, Tipperary’s hurlers will begin their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A campaign against Galway.
This Saturday night’s game will be played at FBD Semple Stadium, with a 7pm start.

However, Tipperary are in a very different position than they were at the start of 2025. Twelve months ago they were in the challenging pack. This time, they begin the season as All-Ireland champions.

“We played most of our games last year as underdogs, and that’s a different challenge than what we are going into this year,” says Hurler of the Year John McGrath.

“Teams are eyeing you up, like we would have done with different teams over the last couple of years. When you have had that bit of success, teams do maybe approach you with a different mentality.

“That’s something we’re going to have to deal with, something you want to have. It’s a sign that you’ve done well and it’s something you just have to embrace and try and make the best of it”.

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With the county’s last success in the league having come all of 18 years ago, the Loughmore/Castleiney player says “We have no one on the panel that has a league medal, so straight away it’s very easy to refocus yourself and have something to aim for there.

“There are a lot of guys with a lot of experience and different things under the belt, but to have no league medal in that time is something that we would like to rectify, and no better time to get stuck into it than over the next couple of weeks”.

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Having recently returned from honeymoon, following his marriage to Kirsten McCormack before Christmas, he says “the mood is good.

“Lads are really looking forward to the season, the league is just around the corner, and the Munster League was an opportunity for everyone to put their best foot forward before the league and championship begin”.

John McGrath was speaking after he had been presented with the Annerville Award for Hurling by the Tipperary United Sports Panel at a ceremony at the Talbot Hotel in Clonmel, following his outstanding season last year.

“2025 was a brilliant year, a busy one, a kind of a mad one for a finish in a lot of ways,” he stated.

“It was really enjoyable.

“Any of these awards you pick up after a successful year are great, and they’re ones to be cherished”.