TJ Reid celebrates after victory over Clare in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
By John Harrington
Kilkenny have a tradition of doing things well around All-Ireland SHC Finals, so it was no surprise they produced a glossy programme for the media that profiled every member of their panel.
When you flicked through it you couldn’t help but pause at page 12, at the bottom of which was TJ Reid’s pen-pic.
The editors had quite the task shoe-horning all of his achievements into such a small box, but it was all there, from his Feile na nGael title in 1998, his Fitzgibbon Cup in 2008, the 13 All-Ireland senior titles between club and county, and the many other honours in between.
Reid’s status as one of the all-time greats of the game is already a given, but reading through the chronology of all he has achieved on the field from adolescence, through his teenage years, and into adulthood somehow made you appreciate that all the more.
His career has been quite the journey, and Derek Lyng has had a ring-side seat for much of it. First as a team-mate, then as a selector under Brian Cody, and now as Kilkenny manager.
Lyng knew Reid had the potential to be something special from the he joined the panel as a 19-year-old, but believes his greatness comes from marrying that natural ability with a relentless work-ethic.
“Ah just a hugely skilful player,” says Lyng of his first impressions of a young TJ Reid.
“It was probably 2008 really, in training matches, some of the things he was doing was just phenomenal. He was still probably under-21 at that stage. Still a light fella. But his skill was just outstanding.
“He works so hard on his game, and still does. It’s fantastic to look at, even for lads that are coming into the panel, to see what he’s doing. He spends longer than anybody else practising, and that hasn’t changed a bit. He’s a phenomenal player. But he puts so much work into it – I don’t think people realise.
“Okay, he might have had a little bit of help in terms of he has a natural gift for it, but [he puts] a huge amount of work into it. You know, he’s a fantastic role model for anybody.”
TJ Reid pictured playing against Tipperary in the 2008 Allianz Hurling League semi-final.
Reid’s direct influence on Kilkenny over the years is easily measured through all he has scored and all he has won, but less quantifiable is that positive influence on others that Lyng alludes to.
A team’s standards are often set by individuals who strain every sinew to push the bar ever higher, and team-mates like Conor Fogarty don’t mind admitting the example that Reid sets has motivated others to raise their own game.
"Look, it's been great,” says Fogarty. “He's a huge leader for us all really. He sets a great example for us all. You don't need me to tell you what he's done.
“He's been brilliant. His preparation has been top-notch and that's what has probably made him the player that he is. It's his commitment to it, but he's a great lad behind it all aside from what he does on the pitch."
Perhaps what’s most remarkable about Reid is that at the age of 36 he’s as influential as he’s ever been for Kilkenny.
He might not score as much from open play as he once did, but he’s no less involved in the action.
His ability to win possession and then use it wisely means the Kilkenny attack revolves around him to a significant degree, and his incredible level of fitness means he can affect games positively from first minute to last.
That was very apparent in the final 20 minutes of All-Ireland semi-final against Clare when he won some big possession both in defence as well as attack, set up Eoin Cody’s goal with a driving run and perfect pass, arced over a sublime sideline cut, and landed a couple of crucial frees.
Eoin Cody of Kilkenny celebrates with team-mate TJ Reid after scoring a second-half goal against Clare in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
It’s hard to think of any current player with a keener game-intelligence than Reid. He always seems to know where to be, when to be there, and what to do when the ball comes his way.
“Absolutely, his reading of the game is outstanding,” says Lyng. “I suppose a lot of lads, it’s the experience he has as well. He pops up in the right places at the right time. He has that knack.
“And then when he’s on the ball, just uses it so well. I mean, he’s hurling as well as ever. He’s in great shape. He minds himself. And hopefully he’ll continue for as long as possible.”
Reid became the highest scorer in the history of the All-Ireland SHC in that All-Ireland semi-final win over Clare. He has now scored 30-544 (634 points) over the course of his stellar career, which puts him seven clear of Cork’s Patrick Horgan on 24-555 (627 points).
If Kilkenny win on Sunday he’ll ink another entry in hurling’s history books by becoming the most prolific senior All-Ireland winner of all-time in the history of both hurling on football, with 14 All-Ireland medals between club (6) and county (8).
Kilkenny go into the match as underdogs, but when you have a genuine all-time great like TJ Reid in your team, it’s easy to be believe that anything is possible.
"Yeah, look, TJ is one of those hurlers who's gifted,” says Fogarty. “He can do anything. He can drag teams back into it. You always feel like you have a good chance with the likes of TJ and a few of these lads on your team. They're top-class players and we're happy to have him."
