Record-breaker TJ Reid has his eyes on the prize

By John Harrington

Kilkenny star, TJ Reid, inked another entry in hurling’s history book during Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final victory over Clare.

His haul of 12 points which included 10 frees, a 65, and a beautifully converted sideline cut pushed him back to the top of the all-time hurling championship top-scorers list.

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).

But so focused was Reid on the team goal of defeating Clare and making it through to an All-Ireland Final against Limerick that he was unaware of his own personal milestone.

“Did I?” said Reid after his record-breaking feat. “Ah, I see Hoggy is coming back next year! Obviously on a personal level, it’s great but it’s not about me. It’s about getting the victory for the team. It’s a nice achievement to have. But now it’s about getting the body right for two weeks’ time.”

Reid will have the opportunity to create some more history in the All-Ireland Final against Limerick.

If Kilkenny are triumphant, then he’ll become the most prolific senior All-Ireland winner of all time in the history of both hurling and Gaelic football.

Reid is currently on 13 All-Irelands – seven with Kilkenny and six with his club Ballyhale Shamrocks – which is currently a joint-record along with his former club and county team-mates Henry Shefflin and Michael Fennelly, a statistic highlighted last week by Irish Mirror journalist, Pat Nolan.

So if the Kilkenny sharp-shooter collects another Celtic Cross in two weeks’ time he’ll be out on his own with 14 All-Ireland medals.

That won’t come into his thinking ahead of the showdown with Limerick. A far greater source of motivation will be the memory of last year’s All-Ireland defeat to the same opponents.

“It’s motivation, of course,” says Reid of the prospect of avenging that loss. “But that’s all it is. The hurt will be at the back of our minds.

“But it’s about going out to win the game. If we have any bit of bottle at all, any bit of pride, any bit of desire, that should give us the extra bit of energy we need.

“Because we need it – it’s going to take a great team to beat Limerick. They’re going for four-in-a-row and deservedly so. You saw them against Galway, cruising through the last 20 minutes of the game. We’re under no illusion.”