Here all night. Unless Waterford lose, of course.
If you were being honest, a healthy chunk of GAA men and women would probably admit that they wouldn’t want their team to succeed without them. Being injured or dropped as they win the championship, retiring one year too early, you might well be happy for them but it’s a tough pill to swallow.
Not for Ken McGrath. He’s a Waterford man through and through.
The Déise legend might well have been part of that stunning side that came so close for so long but he’s wise enough to realise and admit that they had 15 bloody years at it and they only have themselves to blame for not getting over the line.
So the ferocious centre back doesn’t look on at this final against Galway like he’s missing something himself. He had his chance, now it’s up to the new breed and no man would be happier if they were to bring Liam back to the south coast for the first time since 1959.
Ahead of the decider, SportsJOE hosted Richie Hogan, Lee Chin and Paudie Maher for an expert panel discussion at Electric Picnic.
McGrath said during the week on a Newstalk roadshow with Tommy Walsh:
“I’m not funny. I’ve no All-Ireland medals. I don’t know what I’m doing here!”
Well, he’s apparently stepped up his game if his Twitter account is anything to go by. Ahead of the showdown with Galway, McGrath stopped for a pick-me-up in Starbucks and, rather than using the classic fake name joke, he had the best response when asked what cup he’d like.
Early start, girl in Starbucks what kind of cup do you want , me…the Liam Mc Carthy , can't believe how funny and witty I am 🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈#bogey pic.twitter.com/xwdLjNzbGb
— Ken McGrath (@kenmcgrath78) September 3, 2017
It seems that the success might’ve gone to his head though because he’s abandoned his post.
According to Kerry superstar Paul Gavin, Ken McGrath was supposed to meet him before the All-Ireland final – under a big tree of course – but he’s been left stranded with no bottle opener.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYlEz4IHPJ5/?hl=en&taken-by=pgal10
It’s all going on. The road to Croker is taking some strange 11th hour detours.
Ken McGrath is cracking jokes in Starbucks, Paul Galvin is under a big tree in Drumcondra and Ger Loughnane is running around wild in Stradbally.
