'Hurt' the primary motivator for Tipperary U20s said Darragh McCarthy after final win

After some time signing hurleys, jerseys, and match programmes on the Nowlan Park pitch for the young, starstruck Tipperary fans, Darragh McCarthy reflected on a job well done last Saturday.

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“It’s so sweet,” said McCarthy in the bowels of Nowlan Park.

“We carried a lot of pain over the last 12 months, so to get over the line today is an absolute privilege.

“It was a team effort. It’s not one to 15, it’s one to 41. It’s a collective the whole way around with lads giving everything in every training session.”

As mentioned, Tipperary carried 41 players over the course of the year with plenty of talented players from this age group, coupled with a fair cluster of All-Ireland minor winners from 2024 and that quality of competition is what McCarthy referenced in the aftermath of the final win.

“There’d be lads who aren’t anywhere near the team, yet they’d be inside pushing the lad in the starting 15, and that’s what a good team does,” he said.

“It’s something we might have referenced at times, but I think that the pressure is a privilege.
To be able to put on this jersey is a massive honour.

“You’re representing your club, your family, coaches. You’re representing everyone, so I think that’s how we looked at it, and we felt it was the perfect opportunity to give it our all.

It has been a busy 2025 for McCarthy and a few of his teammates with hurling commitments across two Tipperary teams, and when asked about what is yet to come, he insisted they would enjoy the celebrations and re-focus later next week.

“We’re going to enjoy the next few days, that’s for sure.

“We’ll have time to reflect over the next few weeks, myself, Sam, and Oisin, and enjoy the next few days. It means so much to get over the line today.

“It does so much for so many people; it lifts the whole county, and we’re in great preparations for the senior team as well.

“They came in their thousands today, and when you hear that ‘Tipp, Tipp, Tipp’ you know you’re in a good place on the field and that’s what it’s all about.

“It’s important for the young lads who look up to all the players in there (dressing room).

“You have to give your time to them because they made the effort to buy a ticket and come down and support us today,” he finished.

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