All star hurling tour: After six days of sun and fun, and more or less being treated like royalty, the only obvious drawback to the All Star hurling tour is going home. Especially when that means getting back to the hard training. For the Kelly brothers, Eoin and Paul, that could be particularly rough.
They've been on the road for almost a month now, having spent over two weeks in Australia before linking up with the All Star tour in Singapore last Wednesday. They had a few training sessions with new Tipperary manager Michael Babs Keating before Christmas, but they know all the hard work is to come - which was why it was so important to enjoy the pleasures of the Far East.
"I know most teams are well back into the training at this stage of the season," admitted Eoin Kelly, "and Tipperary are no different. We've been back since well before Christmas. And I know a lot of guys are already putting in the effort on their own.
"But still, to get away on a trip like this in January is great. It just refreshes you a bit before you get back into the real heavy stuff. If you get an opportunity like this you have to take it."
The Kellys were primarily in Australia to visit an uncle, who's been in Melbourne for 50 years - although they don't claim to be any relation to Ned. They also linked up with former Cork hurlers Setanta and Aisake Ó hAilpín, who are with the Australian Rules club Carlton.
"I'd played against Setanta most of the way up so it was nice to see him again," added Kelly. "I think they're always delighted to meet a few Irish guys when they come over, that far away from home."
Once they return to Tipperary, however, the Kellys will effectively be professionals themselves, especially if Babs Keating has his way.
For the record, Clare's Seanie McMahon was the only player spotted in the hotel fitness room all week, with the rest of the tourists content to work out in the pool, or at least lie out beside it.
Kelly, though, wasn't fooling himself about the hard road that lies ahead. He hadn't worked with Keating before his return to the county's management team late last year, but the first impression lived up to the expectation.
"Well, I think everyone knew what to expect. Like, when Babs talks, everyone listens. We haven't really got into the pure hurling stuff yet, but we'd a few good sessions before Christmas.
"I just know Babs has the respect of everyone, not only in Tipperary but all over the country. It is interesting to discover the different things he brings, his new regime and different tactics and that. He has the experience with UCD the last few years to try a few new things out, and he'd know a lot of the players.
"I know he's been using an experimental team at the moment, and I think he will try out a lot of players from around the county, and that's a good thing. That's encouraging for the club players who maybe haven't got a shot yet. If they're performing well, then they'll know they have the chance now of making it."
One of the few things Kelly did miss while travelling was the GAA's formal agreement on bringing soccer and rugby to Croke Park next year. His first reaction is to welcome the move.
"It's no harm all right. I got to know Ronan O'Gara and Damien Duff through the Lucozade ad, and I'm happy for them. And I know the GAA will be putting the money back into the grassroots. That can only be good. But it's hard to know how it will influence opinions on pay for play. I haven't thought too much about it anyway."
And why would he - when he's been on the other side of the world for a month and the envy of every other hurler in Ireland. So goes another All Star tour.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)