Loughmore-Castleiney manager Eamonn Kelly wasn't making any excuses after his side's Munster club SHC semi-final defeat to Ballygunner.

Kelly revealed afterwards that star man Noel McGrath played with a stomach bug in the 1-16 to 1-26 loss at Walsh Park.

“He was actually quite sick. We didn’t think he was going to be able to tog out. Some bug, Brian [McGrath] had it yesterday," he told reporters.

“Listen, they’re not excuses. Noel was adamant he wanted to hurl and I’d take half a Noel McGrath any day, to be honest. It’s just something that happens and you just have to live with it. They’re the ups and downs of sports.”

Kelly also backed Ballygunner for All-Ireland glory, adding: “Listen, they can go all the way. But you just don’t know. On a given day, anything can happen – weather can play a huge part. They’re a cracking hurling side. If they get to play on good pitches, it’ll take a serious hurling side to turn them over.”

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