Chances are this corner wasn’t the only location in which there was an almost sorrowful pondering as to whether we will see TJ Reid in the black and amber again.
When somebody has been on the ‘circuit’ as the Shamrocks superstar, those thoughts ruminate every season when the Cats’ campaign comes to an end. What’s different this time around is that the Cats have been consigned to the cradle without the silver spoon and uncharacteristically early.
The sporting romantic and optimist in me is hoping that, in a strange way, the fact that their season did run aground earlier than would have been expected might give the iconic socks-pulled-up southpaw the amount of recharge time required if he was tempted to go again.
Doubtless, there will be Novenas, petitions and Masses for special intentions in the weeks and months ahead on the banks of the Suir to that effect. Time nor tide waits for no man or woman or beast, and it could be the case that it may take Kilkenny longer to rebuild than TJ would have left in him anyway. Ditto Derek Lyng in the dugout. But, for me at least, with absolutely no skin in the game with the case in question, there’s always an immense sadness at the departure of greatness.
Both TJ and his wife Niamh (De Brun) lead extraordinarily busy business lives with hurling’s supreme scorer seemingly splitting his time between his gym business and the family farm while the De Brun ‘brand’ is one of the biggest audience pullers on socials. The couple also welcomed their second child just a couple of months ago.
Now, earlier in the year, former black and amber midfielder and captain Andy Comerford was almost ridiculed for voicing his disappointment that deserting stars such as Huw Lawlor and Billy Ryan didn’t return from overseas to aid feline operations.
I vehemently agree with the O’Loughlin Gaels great, your years as an inter county player are finite and fleeting. You’ve a whole lifetime to go traveling in contrast.
If Urlingford native Lyng does remain at the head of the KK dressing room, he, or whoever may be in there if not is almost certainly going to have to oversee a period of transition.
In a county where demand for success is instant and constant, that will have to be managed very delicately indeed. Which, looking from the outside in, would make Comerford’s misgivings about those who jumped ship at the first sign of choppy waters all the easier to understand. Would they have spread their wings if the Cats were still hoovering up titles like a self propelled harvester eats grass? They would in my backside.
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You can be full sure there will be the same introspection, contemplation and trepidation in Tipperary as their neighbours will have regarding TJ in relation to Noel McGrath. The Loughmore/Castleiney legend having just completed 18 years of active service in the Tipp senior platoon. Speculation pertaining to his future no doubt given an injection of diesel by the photos which emerged after the Premier County were found sadly lacking against Limerick of the inspirational dual star with his wife Aisling and their children.
As I would also contend in the case of TJ, in terms of pure hurling ability and physical conditioning, there’s no doubt the captain of the mighty McGrath clan still has plenty more to offer at the highest level.
On the flip side of that, of course, there could be no quibble if they do both deside to draw stumps on their glory-laden careers. Yet the manner in which the two lads bowed out – for this season at least – seems wholly ill fitting for players of their stature in the game.
Look, there’s probably no such thing as a perfect system, in terms of structures of competitions, but, it just seems a great pity that so many of the brightest stars in the game won’t be seen working their magic together for at least nine months.
Worse still, there are some we mightn’t see on the greatest stage again. Always a sad realisation.
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