We didn’t Reid the situation
TJ SAYS CATS DIDN’T REACT TO DIFFERENT SIDES’ STYLES
TJ REID admits Kilkenny were slow to adapt after coming unstuck against sweeper systems last year.
In 2017 their interest in the League and Leinster Championship was ended by Wexford and they were eliminated from the All-ireland race by Waterford – two counties that have shifted dramatically from the more conventional hurling formation.
But both of those were sent packing, Wexford twice, en route to Kilkenny’s surprise success in the Hurling League, culminating in last Sunday’s final win over Tipperary.
It was noticeable how Kilkenny opted to play more of a short stickpassing game at stages during their six-game winning streak. But, as their two goals against Tipp showed, they certainly haven’t abandoned their more traditional, longer approach either.
“We were probably slow to respond to it,” said Reid on how Kilkenny reacted to emerging styles elsewhere. “But, as with any player, losing creates that hunger and that appetite again.
“We lost to a number of teams last year and being honest with yourself it wasn’t good enough. Our standards probably dropped last year. Last year is gone now, that’s in the past and we are just looking forward to what we have now in front of us.
“We have a very good chance. Again, a long road to go yet. It’s adapting to each team.
“We probably were slow but going back to Waterford, we beat Waterford in 2015 with the same style.
“Look, we just weren’t good enough last year overall.”
While Reid says Kilkenny don’t get bogged down by tactics at training, their new approach hasn’t come about by chance.
“Maybe before it was get the ball, drive it. Now lads are getting the ball, turning back and picking out Cillian Buckley or Paddy Deegan on the run.
“It is being highlighted from the top, but the players are responding and responding well to it.
“We have the players who can make the ball talk. Padraig Walsh is one of the best natural hurlers in the game and he’s back full-back and doing very well.
“He can come out, solo the ball 60 or 70 yards, give a pop pass or can come out and score a point.
“So we have very natural hurlers who can adapt to that change and it’s great because it’s just the way hurling has gone. It’s a more possession game, half-backs on the shoulder, midfielders supporting the half-backs and the half-forwards.
“You have to adapt. The Wexford game was very different. Each team is going to bring a different style.
“Wexford like to swarm the middle, half-backs are up the field supporting the half-forwards. Tipperary was more 15 on 15 as such.”
Confidence is coursing through the team on the back of their recent wins which, as Reid accepts, certainly wasn’t the case last year.
He added: “No matter where we turned last year, be it papers, talking to people off the field, that was the talk, Kilkenny are in transition and it’s going to take two or three years to come back.
“You can try and block all that out but it does creep in. Players not believing in themselves and players maybe not believing that they can compete. Last year we were on the rocks, I suppose.
“We weren’t going as well as we are this year of course. But yeah, it’s just confidence and belief.”
Last year is gone now, it’s in the past & we are just looking forward