Ballyhale Shamrocks forward TJ Reid believes his side will be up against it when they meet a 'fantastic' Newtownshandrum side in this Sunday's All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling semi-final at Semple Stadium.
Reid was honoured this week along with Newtown's Ben O'Connor and Dunloy's Paddy Richmond as the AIB Provincial Club hurlers of the Year at a ceremony in Dublin. Hurley maker Reid says he is thrilled to pick up the award.
"It's brilliant, it's fantastic for myself,” he beamed. I suppose there are other colleagues there that you could mention. 'Cha' who had a fantastic year, Colin Fennelly, Eamonn Walsh at centre-back; Aidan Cummins - you could have picked any of those boys and I'm just delighted I'm up here collecting an award for Ballyhale.” Looking ahead to Sunday, he hopes Shamrocks won't see another nightmare defeat, following last years semi-final heartbreak against Portumna. “Newtownshandrum are a fantastic team and lets hope it's not going to be like last year against Portumna. Look what happened to us. Hopefully our attitude will be better and hopefully on the day things won't go wrong for us,” Reid said.
Reid cites strong displays by Newtownshandrum against Thurles Sarsfields and Ballygunner as reasons to fear the Munster champions. “I saw the Thurles game and it was a very tough contest. Then in the Munster final against Ballygunner - that was another tough game for them as well,” he said. “Those tough games will stand to them. If you are playing bad teams and beating them by ten or 15 points it's not really good for you. I suppose they don't mind having those games so long as they win.” Reid says his side are lucky to progress to an All-Ireland semi-final after a stern test against Oulart the Ballagh in their first round Leinster Championship clash. “That day we could have been gone and we mightn't even be standing now, because it went to extra-time. That day was an unbelievable battle for us, because Oulart are a fantastic team and I suppose we really had to dig in for the last few minutes of that extra-time.” Since the Leinster win Ballyhale have had tough challenge games against Kilkenny, WIT, Cork IT and Wexford. Looking ahead to Sunday, Reid knows that nothing will be easy as his side go in search of a first All-Ireland final appearance since 2007, and ultimately hopes of landing the Tommy Moore Cup. "When you get to an All-Ireland semi-final or All-Ireland finals it's always going to be hard. It's not going to be easy and the last four teams I suppose they are the best teams all round,” he said. “If you look at Munster or Leinster there are other very good teams there as well, but I suppose the last four standing now have been the most consistent all year. “Whoever will win the All-Ireland final this year is not going to have it easy. Whoever gets through it's going to be a tough game”.
