Shane McGrath

RTÉ Hurling Analyst

Life's just a game of inches – and so is the All-Ireland hurling championship

Hurling's 'game of inches' came into focus last weekend

After a dramatic weekend in which the smallest of margins made a huge impact in the All-Ireland hurling championship, Shane Dowling is reminded of a famous speech from Al Pacino.

GAA • 31 May 23

'This Limerick team have done some hurling since 2017 and when you look back, it has been the same 15 or 16 guys for the majority of that journey that have done the most hurling'

Weekend promises Munster showdown and Wexican stand-off

Shane McGrath on how Cork can capitalise on a Limerick team that may have been to the well one time too often, and the "do-or-die" nature of the task facing Wexford.

GAA • 24 May 23

'There has been a world of hurt inflicted by this Limerick team on the majority of the current Tipp group'

Tipp relishing shot at revenge against driven Limerick

Tipperary are in a much better place compared to when they faced Limerick in last year's Munster Championship, says Shane McGrath.

GAA • 17 May 23

Can we keep asking Munster teams to lay it all on the line and play an All-Ireland four times before even qualifying for an All-Ireland series?'

Munster teams face mammoth challenges early on

The path to All-Ireland glory is particularly onerous for those counties in the one province in the country with genuine strength in depth.

GAA • 10 May 23

'I really do hope that after this weekend all the chat is about what a great game we had in Cork and how wasn't the streaming much better now'

Hurling & buffering: Two words that don't go together

Shane McGrath is a fan of the GAAGO concept but feels customers are being let down by the technology at times.

GAA • 03 May 23

Shane McGrath: 'Pushing the start of the hurling championship back a few weeks would only have a 'impact on the club scene'

Why the hurling present could be wrapped better

Shane McGrath is backing Limerick and Waterford to pick up wins in Munster this weekend, but expects a couple of intruiging clashes in Leinster.

GAA • 26 Apr 23

Stronger, wiser Clare must compete for Munster honours

Ahead of the start of the provincial hurling championships this weekend, RTÉ GAA analyst Shane McGrath takes a look at the team Brian Lohan is building in his fourth year.

GAA • 19 Apr 23

'My hope is this, that teams were holding something back against Limerick in the league and that there will be a tidal wave of intensity coming in the championship'

Some lessons from league and tips for stopping Limerick

Hurling columnist Shane McGrath looks back on the 2023 league season and offers a few suggestions on how teams might go about stopping the seeming unstoppable Limerick winning machine

GAA • 12 Apr 23

'The vast improvements Kilkenny have made round by round have been impressive to say the least'

I was wrong about Cats but Limerick at another level

Shane McGrath has been impressed with Kilkenny in their first league campaign under Derek Lyng but is not convinced they can reverse the All-Ireland final result in Sunday's Allianz Hurling League final.

Hurling • 05 Apr 23

'The position you are in is not important - what it is vital is knowing your part in the system you are playing'

Do positions even matter anymore in hurling?

Traditional set-ups are a thing of the past as teams adopt ultra flexibility in their quest to keep possession at all costs, writes Shane McGrath.

GAA • 29 Mar 23