Corofin veteran Ciaran McGrath isn’t contemplating retirement anytime soon, but he admitted after their most recent All-Ireland club success that it would be local derbies that he’d miss more than anything.

A surprise reply to a question put to him by the Connacht Tribune as many would feel that walking up the steps of the Hogan Stand to collect the Andy Merrigan Cup is the pinnacle of any club player’s career.

And while McGrath cherished those moments in the last three years as Corofin swept all before them and claimed a historic third consecutive All-Ireland title when defeating Kilcoo last Sunday, he feels that he will miss playing local derbies in Galway more.

“The way that ended (All-Ireland club final), you would probably miss it, but I think the days when you are not playing in Tuam Stadium against Tuam or Caherlistrane and the local derbies, I think those are the days you would miss more, more so than days like these, because these don’t come around too often,” said McGrath.

“So, I think the local rivalries we will miss when we walk away, more than the glory days out in Croke Park. But, look it, when we will look back on it we will find it surreal, what we have achieved, but hopefully there is more to come.”

The Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues are back this weekend and so is the Hogan Stand Match Tracker. Join us on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon for live score and updates from the opening rounds.

Tweet

Most Read Stories