MCGRATH'S REBOOT HELPED PREMIER KICK ON TO GLORY

TIPPERARY'S renaissance man John McGrath has admitted his struggles prior to this season weren't all down to injury.

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McGrath's 2022 Championship campaign was ended early by a ruptured Achilles tendon and, even after his return, the injury continued to nag at him.

With his form well short of the levels of 2016 and '19, when he was a key forward on Tipp All-Ireland winning sides, he was no longer an automatic selection.

But that was turned on its head this year as the management "took a chance" on him for the Championship opener against Limerick.

He hit 2-1 that day as Tipp salvaged a draw and he never looked back.

In Sunday's All-Ireland final win over Cork, he scored 2-2 and was fouled for a further 1-2, which Darragh McCarthy converted from placed balls.