Barrett also laughed off accusations from Jackie Tyrrell that he went down too easily when caught by Hogan’s elbow. Though Barrett says he felt sorry for the Kilkenny forward when James Owens produced the red card.

“Cathal Barrett, for me, went down way too easy,” Tyrrell said on The Sunday Game. “He made an awful lot of it.”

Owens appeared to check on the prone defender before making his decision to dismiss Hogan.

“Jaysus Jackie, that’s a bit harsh. I’m surprised at him,” responded Barrett, at the Clayton Hotel today, where Tipp’s victory celebrations continued.

“I got hit in the jaw, what does he want me to do?

“I was a little dazed. It wasn't my decision. The doctor has to assess me. There’s nothing I can do. The more I try to get up, I can’t…

“I was a bit rattled, so the doctor did assess me. He wasn’t going to let me back until I answered the protocol questions. He asked a couple of questions and checks your eyes and things like that, to see if you are actually with him…

“The KIlkenny lads are sticking with their own. If Jackie thinks I went down soft, Jackie thinks I went down soft. Sure I’ll meet him and we’ll have it out.

“It’s a pity that the day is taken away from someone like that.

“Richie is an unbelievable player and has been unbelievable for Kilkenny. It’s just a pity it ended the way it did for him.

“The rule is high tackle, I’m not going to say whether the ref was right or not, but personally I wouldn't like to see him going. I wouldn’t like to see a lad’s big day taken from him,

“Biggest day of the year and you’re training for nine months. Of course, you’d feel sorry for him. And he’s not that type of player, in fairness.”

Former Kilkenny player Eddie Brennan tweeted a clip of Barrett’s earlier foul on Hogan, adding: “A large portion of consistency please.”

A large portion of consistency please https://t.co/sOmF4jUJgz

— Eddie Brennan (@NedzerB13) August 18, 2019

Barrett conceded a free but wasn't carded for the incident which saw Hogan leave the field briefly to patch up a nose injury.

“I saw that back as well,” Barrett said. “And I heard that people were going on about it. But if you’re going on about that you’re clutching at straws, in my opinion.

“For God’s sake, if you slow it down, Richie throws up the ball and I go to flick it and I think it’s my wrist that actually touches off his helmet. And I made contact with the ball as well. Hence why James Owens didn’t give me a yellow card. If lads are on about that they are clutching at straws.”

Barrett limped off near the end of yesterday’s final with a hamstring strain, having excelled in the second half as Tipp’s extra defender.

“I’ve a couple of injuries. I’ve a hamstring, I’ve a lip, I’ve a nose, but sure it’s worth it."

“I had no instructions (for the free role). I was free. It was just instinct. You play it as you see it. The boys have given us enough coaching over the last nine months. They trust us on the field.

“I’ve a lot of work put in. Blood sweat and tears put in the last nine months. It hasn’t been an easy road. But this is why you do it. The group is unreal. If anyone has any bad day, you can always turn to those boys and they will pick you up. They’re an unbelievable group of men. It makes your life easy going in for training. You’ve no bother training in the muck and hardship with these lads.”

Dalo's Final Podcast: Businesslike Tipp. Hogan's red. Hogan & Hawkeye, One-dimensional Cats?

There was a word too for the boss, Liam Sheedy, and the energy he has injected in the Tipp setup since his return.

“Liam is a remarkable man. He’s the engine room of our dressing room. He just drives, drives, drives and he drives perfection and standards. He will leave no stone unturned. He’ll make sure you are the best and he’ll bring you along with him and make you into the machine he wants.”