Gavin Cummiskey talks to Tipperary's captain about the ups and downs of his intercounty career
Ger O'Grady began his love affair against the outer wall of the Semple Stadium Old Stand. With 39 Childers Park overshadowed by the spiritual home of hurling he had little choice but to become infatuated.
Redser - only his mother, Geraldine, calls him Ger - progressed inside soon enough. The ginger mop and natural hurling ability ensured the anonymity enjoyed as a child disappeared as a teenager. So to gain access to matches he became a steward. He even cut seats for the construction company that redeveloped the Ó Cuineáin Stand.
The relationship with Semple reaches a new level on Sunday when he leads Tipperary on to the field as the Munster championship clicks into action.
O'Grady exploded on to the national sporting consciousness last May with two impact appearances against Limerick in the Munster championship. The memory is selectively hazy.
"I came on in both games and got a goal each time. I can remember that all right, obviously. In the replay Evan Sweeney came on and got the winning goal. That's all I can remember really."
Sweeney replaced him after normal time but a marker had been laid down nonetheless.
It turned sour that night when he was arrested under the Public Order Act after an incident in Limerick city. He subsequently missed the Munster semi-final victory over Clare.
He was back for the final defeat to Cork but everything unravelled in the second half of the All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway.
The Croke Park experience is not one for the memory bank. Having replaced John Devane after 42 minutes, O'Grady landed a point before then manager Ken Hogan called him ashore on 69 minutes for Darragh Egan.
"We did leave it behind us. I think a few decisions on the sideline cost us that day. I don't want to be knocking anyone as such. It was a funny one but that's the way hurling goes. We definitely left that one behind all right, so hopefully we can redeem ourselves."
O'Grady moved on to lead Thurles Sarsfields to their first county title in 32 years, with Limerick selector Ger Cunningham a guiding hand from the line.
"He is a very good manager. He had Newtown(shandrum) there (before us). He is doing well with Limerick now and I think he's going to land a big job over an intercounty team.
"We know a lot about them and they know a lot about us. Himself and Babs (Keating) will probably have a lot of mind games on the sideline but sure that's what it's all about."
The club breakthrough meant Sarsfields had the honour of naming the county captain. The local boy from Childers Park was the obvious choice.
Keeping with the undulating path O'Grady seems to travel, he lost his place, again to Egan, for the National League semi-final against Kilkenny only to reclaim it for Sunday's important showdown.
"I was going bad in the league but I wouldn't really mind that. When you're playing in the championship, the league is always forgotten about. There are places up for grabs there."
Asked about Babs Keating's criticism of the players' disappointing performances during the league, O'Grady says: "We were going badly. Maybe he wanted to lift the players a bit. I don't read papers myself. He was right.
"This year people think we are going bad. I'd nearly prefer that as sometimes we are always trying to come in off the league trying to win this and win that. People probably underestimate us and that's the way we would prefer it."
