Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE’RE GUNNER STOP YOU TJ!
Waterford cracks put all hands to the pump to halt dangerman Reid
BY WAYNE HUTCHINSON says it’s all hands on deck for Ballygunner to stop TJ Reid in today’s AIB All-ireland club semifinal.
The Ballyhale and Kilkenny sharpshooter is probably the standout player among the four teams left in the competition and is looking to strengthen his club’s position at the top of the roll of honour by claiming a seventh Allireland club title, having already won three himself. As Ballygunner’s centreback, a sizeable chunk of the responsibility will fall on Hutchinson’s shoulders though he insists that others will have to chip in too, such is Reid’s quality.
“TJ is TJ,” he said. “In my book he is one of the best players in the country, he’s a top bloke too. “It’s going to take a good player to stop him. It doesn’t always necessarily come down to a direct opponent, TJ is the type of player who drifts all over the pitch so it’s really about zonal marking and picking up your own spot.
“It really is the responsibility of the team.”
The tie between the Waterford at Kilkenny champions in Thurles this evening is unique for this stage of the competition given that it is something of a local derby.
“Only 35 minutes between the two clubs, a bridge in Waterford dividing us, Ballyhale is only about 15 minutes after that. It really is a local derby.
“We have often played against them in challenge games but we have never played against each other in Championship hurling. Brings a life of its own.”
Although the lengthy break between the end of the provincial campaigns and the All-ireland semi-finals can rob teams of momentum, Ballygunner appear to be the more battle-hardened outfit in getting this far.
Ballyhale hit six goals and had 16 points to spare against Naomh Eanna in the Leinster semi-final before beating Ballyboden St Enda’s by the same margin in the final, while Ballygunner had narrows wins over Midleton and Ballyea (after extra time) and then produced their best performance to see off hot favourites Na Piarsaigh by six points in the Munster final. Hutchinson added: “The tougher games you get you are more ready for it because nothing beats tough Championship games, the tougher games you get you are more ready for it because nothing beats tough Championship games.
“You could be in your own training grounds training away but nothing beats that competitive action.
“This specific team is probably together the last four or five years, the thing is just the combination of training throughout those five years.
“Even though we won the Munster Championship we have probably taken a lot of unlucky beatings along the way to that success in November.”