15 months on from being cut from the Tipperary panel by then manager Michael Ryan and Cathal Barrett stepped up to be one his side's most important players in Sunday's All-Ireland final win against Kilkenny.
After Richie Hogan was shown a red card by referee James Owens for a challenge on Barrett, the corner-back became the free man in the Tipp team. It was a role which he played perfectly.
"I've had more obstacles and challenges thrown in front of me than I can count," Barrett, a likely All-Star, told Sky Sports after the game.
"This is why you do it, to come back here for days like this.
"How could you lose faith with this group of players? If anyone is ever down or low, these boys will pick you up."
🗣️"I've had more obstacles and challenges thrown in front of me than I can count!"
Tipperary back Cathal Barrett chats to @LawlorDamian after the All-Ireland win! pic.twitter.com/O0vi5SkGj1— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) August 18, 2019
Speaking to RTÉ on Monday morning, the 26-year-old said he had sympathy for the red-carded Hogan. 18 minutes prior to the challenge which resulted in Hogan leaving the action, Barrett had drawn blood from the Kilkenny man when his hurley hit Hogan's facemask.
"First and foremost, any man who steps on to the field deserves massive credit because the effort that lads put in, from Tipp, Kilkenny and every other county is unbelievable," Barrett told Morning Ireland.
"It's a full-time job playing hurling. It's very heartbreaking for someone to get sent off. It's not something I like to see myself. It's hard to know. It's a head-high tackle so it must be a red.
"I wouldn't have liked to see him go myself. It's the biggest day of the year. You're training nine months for it and it's kind of taken from you. It's not nice. It's disappointing for him."
Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
