Noel McGrath is looking forward to another tilt at the Liam MacCarthy Cup after helping Tipperary to a thrilling All-Ireland SHC semi-final victory over Kilkenny.

The three-time All-Ireland SHC winner was at the centre of a major score controversy when his 70th minute shot was waved wide by an umpire but was given as a point on the scoreboard, meaning Tipp’s margin of victory was two points rather than three.

“The feeling never gets old, it’s as good as ever,” said McGrath – who was sprung from the bench midway through the second half – in an RTÉ interview.

“It’s hard to put into words at the moment, it’s just after happening. That initial feeling will never get old for anyone when you’re not playing, never mind when you are playing. It’s such a great feeling. We’ll enjoy it now for the next few hours.

“I don’t know what to say, the game ebbed and flowed. It was very like the ’19 semi-final, a man down but we dug in. And Jesus, Oisín’s goal was unbelievable, what a finish!”

The 34-year-old Loughmore-Castleiney clubman, whose brothers John and Brian are also part of the Tipp set-up, hailed the impact of young guns such as match winner Oisín O’Donoghue.

“They bring a freshness. When new lads come in, I won’t say they don’t care, but that care-free attitude… When I came in, you have that as well. When you get older, it just gets different.

“Some of the performances there today were like lads that had been up here loads and loads of times. Some of them have never even been in Croke Park, let alone played up here. There’s four, five, six lads playing today that didn’t play last year. That has pushed us on,” he added. 

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