TJ REID IS one of the most powerful forwards in modern day intercounty hurling and to the naked eye at least, it appears that he may have bulked up even more this year.
Kilkenny teammate Paul Murphy reckons that he might know the reason why, providing this classic line to reporters at last week’s press day in the city.
“Well he’s selling calf nuts, maybe he’s eating a few of them,” was corner back Murphy’s brilliant response when Reid’s impressive physique became the topic of conversation.
Murphy is a guy we could spend hours chatting to about hurling and life in general.
But beneath the Danesfort star’s affable exterior lies a teak-tough competitor and a born winner.
Reid may be one of Kilkenny’s main leaders in attack but Murphy is the man you don’t want to come into contact with if you’re an opposition forward.
Murphy’s debut season in 2011 saw him collect a first All-Ireland senior medal and while Henry Shefflin claimed the Hurler of the Year award in 2012, Murphy was a brilliant shout as a nominee.
As things stand right now, Reid is right up there in the reckoning to claim the individual accolade for 2015 and having marked him at training on numerous occasions, 26-year-old Murphy is knows how much of a handful the Ballyhale Shamrocks colossus is.
“Marking TJ in training, you can see how hard it is, and before a match you think, ‘well, that’s their problem now.’
“And any forward coming in on you, you think, well I’ve been marking TJ the last few weeks, so hopefully I have an edge here.”
Richie Hogan is another of Kilkenny’s attacking stars and Murphy noted: “Richie’s been doing some unbelievable things on the pitch for years, but particularly the last eighteen months.
“And you see that in training and you know that in a match it’s on your side. Mentally going into a match it’s a massive lift knowing that.”
Reid bounced into the summer championship season on the back of claiming All-Ireland club honours with Ballyhale Shamrocks.
He’s obviously been spending plenty of time in the gym too and Murphy acknowledged: “He’s bigger, but he’s very dedicated.
“He probably realises that it’s not enough to be skilful, that players in hurling and football have to be physically fit. The idea you just puck a ball of the wall is gone.
“TJ knows if he does his work in the gym that it’ll improve his skills. Marking the likes of Seamus Hickey or Noel Connors, they’re big men, and you need the strength to break the tackle.
“TJ’s a big physical presence, as I know from marking him in training.”
Reid and Hogan are not the only players that Murphy has to worry about on training nights at Nowlan Park.
He’s also pitted his wits against the likes of John Joe Farrell and Ger Aylward, who has made an explosive impact on championship 2015.
But in terms of sheer trickery, there’s one man who stands above all others in Murphy’s eyes.
“I’ve always said Aidan Fogarty,” he reveals.
“Henry (Shefflin) is in there too, but Aidan was just electric.
“A lot of people didn’t see that but if Aidan was going well no defender could deal with him.
“Whether people believed me or not though, I felt Aidan was very difficult.
“On other teams, (Galway’s) Joe Canning is brilliant altogether.
“Bonner Maher (Tipperary), then, is an engine – you’re marking an engine with a hurl.
“They’re different. Joe has unbelievable skill and Bonner has a huge work ethic, working so hard for the team.”
