45,000 welcome home All-Ireland hurling champions as McGrath hints at staying on

An estimated 45,000 people welcomed newly-crowned All-Ireland hurling champions Tipperary back to Thurles last night.

FBD Semple Stadium was thronged for the homecoming as the Tipp players and management brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the Premier County for the first time since 2019 following Sunday's sensational victory over Cork at Croke Park.

The mood was in complete contrast to Cork where no homecoming took place at the request of the players and management.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill enthused: "It's absolutely incredible, the 45,000 plus people here. It's the stuff of dreams really. I'm delighted the Liam MacCarthy is back here in Tipperary."

Meanwhile, Noel McGrath has hinted that he could return in 2026 to chase a fifth All-Ireland SHC medal.

“I’d love it, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens," said the Loughmore-Castleiney veteran, who turns 35 in December.

"I’d love to be able to give it a go and have a rattle off it next year.

"But we’ll go back to the club over the next few months and we’ll battle it out against each other there and see what happens.”