There was a big surprise in the Premier Credit Union Mid Tipperary Hurling Championship last week as a quarter-final clash seen a former professional soccer player grace the pitch in Thurles.
Gortnahoe Glengoole pulled off a big shock in defeating Thurles Sarsfields in the last-eight clash last Thursday, and while Sarsfields had stars of their own in Ger 'Redser' O'Grady and Lar Corbett in play, they couldn't match the stardom Gortnahoe sprung from the bench in the second half, with former Irish soccer international Shane Long being introduced.
Back for the Hurling for Cancer fundraiser in Carlow last Monday week, Long decided to throw his lot in with his club's junior hurlers in their knockout clash and made a telling contribution by scoring a point during his time on the pitch.
The Tipperary native finished his professional career at the end of the 2022/23 season after a final return to his old club Reading and well before his pro career got underway, Long lined out for Tipperary at minor level before giving up the small-ball game altogether; Long played his last game back in 2004.
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