SHANE MCGRATH HAS revealed that the Tipperary captaincy was too much of a burden for him to bear.
The All-Star midfielder led Tipp last season but he feels that the pressure of the armband caused his performances to suffer.
“I had a very hard year last year,” McGrath said. “Personally, I found the pressure and the whole thing about being captain tough.
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“It’s a massive honour, especially for my club Ballinahinch, a tiny place. Who knows, will it ever happen again? But I’ll be honest I found it tough going.
As much as I was telling myself, ‘Don’t put yourself under pressure’, I was going out telling myself, ‘ I am captain here now I have to play well’ and it just didn’t happen.
The man who took over from him, Brendan Maher, will lead out the side in their National Hurling League semi-final against Clare this afternoon.
McGrath sensed that his successor was putting himself under the same pressure as he settled into the role, but Maher’s leadership shone through against Cork last time out.
“I don’t regret being captain one bit and never would, it’s a massive honour,” McGrath said.
“I think some lads are able to handle it and some lads aren’t. I think I unfortunately was one of the lads that aren’t.
“I remember 2010. When I finish my career and think who was the best hurler I ever played with it will be without doubt Eoin Kelly. The way he managed the whole thing, being captain, getting to the final, it didn’t knock a feather out of him and will tell you the kind of guy he is.
Brendan would probably be the first to admit that earlier on in the year, he probably put a bit too much pressure on himself, but I know he is after handling it very well. You could see the way he played against Cork the last day, he had a massive game. Brendan is a natural leader.
At 29 McGrath is one of the older heads in a young Tipp side and even though there are a few years left in the legs, he’s savouring this season.
“I am really enjoying the hurling this year. I know myself that I am probably coming to the end of this great journey that I have been on for the last 10 years or so and I am just making the most of it and I really am enjoying this year more so than a few years.”
'Some lads can handle it and some lads can't' - Shane McGrath on his tough year as Tipp captain
SHANE MCGRATH HAS revealed that the Tipperary captaincy was too much of a burden for him to bear.
The All-Star midfielder led Tipp last season but he feels that the pressure of the armband caused his performances to suffer.
“I had a very hard year last year,” McGrath said. “Personally, I found the pressure and the whole thing about being captain tough.
“It’s a massive honour, especially for my club Ballinahinch, a tiny place. Who knows, will it ever happen again? But I’ll be honest I found it tough going.
The man who took over from him, Brendan Maher, will lead out the side in their National Hurling League semi-final against Clare this afternoon.
McGrath sensed that his successor was putting himself under the same pressure as he settled into the role, but Maher’s leadership shone through against Cork last time out.
“I don’t regret being captain one bit and never would, it’s a massive honour,” McGrath said.
“I think some lads are able to handle it and some lads aren’t. I think I unfortunately was one of the lads that aren’t.
“I remember 2010. When I finish my career and think who was the best hurler I ever played with it will be without doubt Eoin Kelly. The way he managed the whole thing, being captain, getting to the final, it didn’t knock a feather out of him and will tell you the kind of guy he is.
At 29 McGrath is one of the older heads in a young Tipp side and even though there are a few years left in the legs, he’s savouring this season.
“I am really enjoying the hurling this year. I know myself that I am probably coming to the end of this great journey that I have been on for the last 10 years or so and I am just making the most of it and I really am enjoying this year more so than a few years.”
Shefflin starts as Kilkenny change five for league semi v Galway
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All-Ireland Senior HC Final Four GAA National Hurling League Clare Tipperary