Being Tipp top is only way

NOEL STILL DRIVEN BY FEAR OF FAILING TO HACK THE PACE

- KARL O'KANE

EVEN as team skipper and with three All-Ireland titles to his name, Noel McGrath still reckons he has to prove himself every night at Tipperary training.

The 32-year-old says the first year manager bounce is part of that, with Liam Cahill coming in as Premier boss.

But there's also the knowledge that the next game could be his last for a county he has served so well since making his Championship debut at minor level in 2006 as a 15-year-old.

Seventeen years later - 14 of them as a senior- three-time All Star McGrath continues to lead the way for Tipp with his performances this summer.

Draws with Limerick and Cork and a win over Clare were enough to ensure Tipperary were one of the three sides to escape out of Munster.

They now face an All-Ireland quarter-final against McDonagh Cup runners-up Offaly this Saturday, with Galway awaiting the winners the following weekend.

The final stop off en route to a possible All-Ireland final is Limerick in the semi-final.