'F it anyway' - emotional TJ Reid breaks silence following Kilkenny exit
Reid is one of the game's all-time greats, but as he turns 38 this November, time is ticking on his intercounty career.
Kilkenny were narrowly beaten by Tipperary in a thriller in Croke Park a couple of weekends ago, and it remains to be seen if that will be Reid's last act in a Kilkenny jersey. However, his emotional post did not mention retirement.
"F it anyway Harper. A week on and it still hurts," he wrong on Instagram.
"Grateful for another year wearing the black and amber jersey. Completing 6 Leinster titles in a row is still a wonderful achievement but it would have been brilliant to get back into an All-Ireland Final and to compete in it. Thanks to my best supporters @niamhdebrun and my little daughter Harper, and to all the Kilkenny supporters.
"Thanks to a group of special players. We had a great journey this year, sport is about the process and progress and we enjoyed every moment of it.
"Up Kilkenny".
Reid has a whopping seven intercounty All-Ireland titles to his name as well as six club All-Ireland titles in one of the truly great hurling careers of all time. First joining the Kilkenny panel in 2007, Reid would go on to collect seven All-Star awards during his illustrious career and has won 14 Leinster Hurling titles.
Speaking to media earlier this season though, Reid has hinted that he wants to play until he is 40-years-old. He also opened up on how he decides if he'll play the following year or not.
'That decision comes in November. If it was in the immediate aftermath of last year's game (loss to Clare) you might have thought differently about it.
'I needed to take the time. I must say most players will be annoyed and frustrated and 'F this' or whatnot, 'F that. This is a waste of a year again.'
'You have to allow things to settle down and go again. But the main thing is that I suppose you have to have the belief in yourself as well that you can be an impact and I'm still very confident in that department. And look, you have to enjoy the process as well.
'We all know for a long time now that the demands of inter-county players are high and the dedication is high, but I always had that and I enjoy it internally as well.'
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