‘He could score from all angles’: Why magic TJ Reid will always be one of hurling’s giants

The timing of TJ Reid’s retirement suggests that he may have lost control of the ending. After Ballyhale Shamrocks won the Kilkenny county final last week Reid was asked about his intercounty future, and his gentle prevarication didn’t conceal his determination to continue: he was waiting to be asked; hoping.

“At the moment I’m still a Kilkenny player,” the 38-year-old said. “So that’s still there. We’ll see … Obviously you want to play forever. I’ll try my best to do that. If there’s a panel picked and I’m called for it, I’ll be there. And if not, so be it.”