TJ Reid celebrates following Ballyhale Shamrocks' AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Semi-Final win over Ballygunner at Croke Park on Sunday.
By Cian O'Connell
Demonstrating resilience under pressure is a challenge Ballyhale Shamrocks always embrace.
Sunday's AIB All-Ireland Club SHC Semi-Final triumph over Ballygunner perfectly illustrated Shamrocks' enduring drive and desire.
TJ Reid, who scored 1-8 in the game, acknowledges that in recent years families in Ballyhale have dealt with tragedies too.
"We've been together for the last five years, we've shown great resilience over the last five years to come back in tough games," Reid says.
"We've plenty of excuses to make excuses about what has happened off the field and to have that resilience and that little bit of toughness, and I think that's what's installed in this Ballyhale team.
"Because we have so much hurt off the field, so much pain and grieving that little bit of toughness inside in that little stomach.
"Against (Kilmacud) Crokes, we could have easily dropped the towel there and fell on the knees but we dug deep and dug it out. Against Ballygunner as well, that little bit of toughness, that little bit of resilience is after coming through.
"That's what makes great teams. When teams come at you, you have that little bit of toughness to go to the extra wire.
"For us now, it's about giving something back to the parish, giving back something to the people who are grieving and give them something to enjoy over Christmas."
TJ Reid after scoring a vital goal from a penalty for Ballyhale Shamrocks against Ballygunner at Croke Park.
Shamrocks showed tremendous determination to eventually shrug off Ballygunner, who were prompted by a brilliant goalkeeping display from Stephen O'Keeffe.
"Yeah we did, and a few great saves from Stephen O’Keeffe in the goal there," Reid remarked.
"It was a game that I suppose we wanted from nine months ago. We wanted to get another crack at Ballygunner and just lucky enough that we came through our county and came through Leinster, and same for Ballygunner.
"Look, it was great for two club teams - plenty of hype and there was great talk about the Ballyhale Shamrocks and Ballygunner game in the last two weeks, and as a club player that’s what you want."
Steely minds were critical according to Reid. "It was about mental preparation; physically we knew we were fit and we knew we were strong and we knew we had pace as well, so it was just getting the minds right for the last two weeks, and controlling it as well," Reid adds.
"Because in the last year there was a lot of hurt and tears in the dressing room going home, so it was about controlling that anger and that bit of motivation for the whole 60 minutes, because it was going to take that.
"It was going to take 60 or 65 minutes of a good performance and we got that. I think it was a great performance, everyone dug in.
"Probably nobody really stood out, each individual did what they had to do - hooks, blocks, turnovers.
"Two subs came in, Brian Butler after five or six minutes and Niall Shortall, and excellent stuff as well, so it was about the whole team chucking in and we did that and luckily enough we got over the line."
