Work, train, eat, repeat

As hurlers go, you will struggle to find many as talented as TJ Reid. As people go, you would struggle to find someone busier. A hurler for Kilkenny, a farmer at home in Ballyhale and a sales rep for Connolly’s Red Mills, TJ is as complete off the pitch as he has proven to be on it. With father’s day fast approaching, the man himself ensures the influence of his father on his career is not overlooked.

“My father has obviously been a major influence; I mean, he was involved with training the Ballyhale underage teams all the way up for the last 15 years. As a family we would go to all the club games and Kilkenny games,” TJ says.

Scoring frees in Croke Park comes at a cost, which may be calculated by the value of shattered glass – something TJ’s dad knows all about.

“There were plenty of broken windows around. My accuracy may not have been great back then but that is how you improve,” laughs TJ.

There is no doubt that growing up on a farm is beneficial to any budding GAA player. The wide spaces make it more applicable to hurling. It reduces the chances of smashed glass for one.

“You have plenty fields to go and puck around anyways. It’s a healthy lifestyle. We knew nothing else growing up on a farm. Any day you had to move cows or change calves, you brought your hurl and sliotar with you,” he says.

The Reids milk 120 dairy cows as well as rearing pedigree Limousine and Charolais cattle. Raised with three brothers, TJ’s older brother Patrick is currently a full-time farmer in partnership with his father on their ever-expanding enterprise.

It is good to be from a farming background. You can lock yourself away. You can go up the firelds and take a look at the animals

There is a common thread that runs through the GAA and farming families: the potential of an angry farmer complaining when the phone call comes from the hurling manager. TJ is lucky in this sense.

“[My dad] understands the sacrifices we need to make. He is a hurling man himself so he appreciates when Brian Cody says there is training, you have to be there,” says TJ.

“This is my 10th year playing so I am used to it. It is all about routine, but there are sacrifices. For example, if your best friend has a stag that you have to miss, or you can’t go out at weekends. But look, I want to play for Kilkenny, I want to play in Croke Park or in Thurles, so that is what you have to do.

“When you are involved in a county team it is like being in a bubble. You work, you train and you go home. Then you repeat it. When you retire, that bubble opens and you’re open for opportunities,” he says.

Unfortunately for competing counties, the bubble TJ speaks of won’t be bursting for a few years yet and he is quick to play down talk about any legacy he may leave when he finally hangs up his hurl and helmet.

“Hopefully I’ll stay in that bubble for a few more years,” he says.

“You can’t think of your legacy just yet. I won hurler of the year last year, which was a great honour, but that is the past. At present, I work towards being the best I can and bettering myself. I mean, you can’t lose sight either. You would read stuff in the media but you have to stay focused on what goes on on the hurling pitch,” he says.

Escaping

If the farmyard is a great asset to develop your skills for hurling, it stands up in equal measure in escaping from it, TJ explains.

“It is good to be from a farming background. You can lock yourself away. You can go up the fields and take a look at the animals. It’s stress-free and it gives you the opportunity to get away from hurling and work if you need to.”

TJ is currently working as an ambassador for the Kelloggs Cúl Camps. He says camps like these are vital for producing the stars of the future.

“It is all about Power and Play programmes for children and it focuses on fun, games and nutrition programmes for six- to 13-year-olds. It is great for all kids above the age of six to go to. It teaches you the basic skills of the game and you make great friends there. The coaches are very good and teach you everything you need to know so I highly recommend it.”

TJ is one of the faces of this year’s Cúl Camps, which begin in July and run through to August.

In a distinguished career, which includes seven All-Irelands and seven Leinster titles with Kilkenny, and individual honours including three All-Stars and the prestigious hurler of the year award last year, TJ believes his greatest achievement was captaining his local club Ballyhale Shamrocks to All-Ireland club glory on St Patrick’s Day.

Home is where the heart is, after all. As father’s day approaches, no message is greater.