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Reid hails Henry Shefflin's managerial nous

TJ Reid, left, and Evan Shefflin of Ballyhale Shamrocks celebrate after victory over St Thomas' in the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Final. 

TJ Reid, left, and Evan Shefflin of Ballyhale Shamrocks celebrate after victory over St Thomas' in the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Final. 

By John Harrington

TJ Reid paid tribute to Henry Shefflin’s managerial nous after the former Kilkenny star led his club Ballyhale Shamrocks to All-Ireland glory with victory over St. Thomas’ yesterday.

Sometimes great players don’t make great managers, but Shefflin has taken to the job like the proverbial duck to water.

Has anyone else ever won an All-Ireland senior title in his first year as a manager the season after hanging up his own playing boots?

Reid believes one of Shefflin’s key strengths is the very fact that he hurled at such a high level until recently and so knows what the modern player appreciates from a manager.

“It was just the whole new freshness,” said Reid.

“He's a modern player, he's only after retiring in the last year. He's modern in terms of how the game is changing.

“So we needed to change our style of play. You saw today how we went long and at times held possession around the middle of the field.

“And we used our coolness on the ball, picking our five and 10-yard passes to players that were free.

“Overall his hurling brain and his leadership and his motivation is great. If players aren't putting in the effort, he's on their backs straight away.”

Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin and Richie Reid of Ballyhale Shamrocks celebrate following the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Ballyhale Shamrocks and St Thomas' at Croke Park in Dublin.

Ballyhale Shamrocks manager Henry Shefflin and Richie Reid of Ballyhale Shamrocks celebrate following the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Ballyhale Shamrocks and St Thomas' at Croke Park in Dublin.

Ballyhale Shamrocks led St. Thomas’ by five points at half-time in yesterday’s Final and then brought their game to an even higher pitch in the second half as they dominated the Galway champions in all aspects of the contest.

It was an impressive show of strength from a club that has now won seven All-Ireland titles.

“That's down to our attitude and our preparation,” said Reid. “If we'd taken our eye off we wouldn't have finished as strong.

“We totally respected St Thomas', we put in a big performance, we kept going to the 68th minute. I suppose things opened up in the second-half but that's down to our hunger and work rate.

“We didn't shut off with our communication out the field, it was all spot on. There was a lot of injury-time, eight minutes, but we kept talking, motivating eachother and we were probably the better team in the 68 minutes.

“We trained very hard all year. The big thing last January was that every player would bring an extra 5 per cent to the table. Today, even the last year, the whole transition of this Ballyhale team has gone through the roof.

“That's partly down to a whole new management team, a whole new structure, a freshness, young boys coming into the team, the likes of Adrian Mullen, the two corner-backs, Brian Butler and Darren (Mullen), youth and experience, and overall hunger and work rate.”

Reid himself has now won four All-Ireland club titles to go with the seven he has won with the Kilkenny senior hurlers. He hopes he might yet have another big day or two out in Croke Park this year in the Kilkenny colours.

“Look, delighted, that's four All-Ireland clubs I have with the Ballyhale Shamrocks team,” said Reid.

“It's a special feeling, celebrating with friends and family. Even now, heading back, you'll be with the family and community, just the morale that the whole parish brings.

“It's a special feeling. Look, we're here in Croke Park in March now, hopefully we'll see Croke Park again later on in the year. But that's another story. Look, delighted, over the moon.”