Having missed most of 2015 after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, Tipperary hurler Noel McGrath is "looking forward to getting this year going".

The Premier County star has returned to full health and is delighted to be able to focus on hurling again.

"I did miss a lot of last year, a lot of tough training, so I'm still trying to build myself back to full fitness, to fit in with the team again," he told The Irish Times. "So it's hard to know. I'd like to think I'm back up to speed with the rest of them, but time will tell.

"I'm just looking forward to the challenge ahead, having missed nearly all of last year. I'm mad for games, and will be pushing myself as hard as I can to make the 26 for match day, and everyone is in the same boat.

"I suppose last April, I wasn't sure what was going to come of it, where I was going to be, if or when I'd ever get back playing. And I'm just delighted that I am back. But people have been out for longer than me with different types of injuries, broken arms or broken legs or bad injuries like that, and spent a lot of time away from the game.

"I'm just looking forward to getting this year going, getting back to normality. I got some great support and people have been really good to me, and I really appreciate that. But I suppose I'm 25 years of age now and you don't realise how quick your career goes. So now it's all about being back playing, hoping Tipp can be successful again in 2016."

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