TJ Reid showed the timelessness of talent in Croke Park in every move

As Ring once said of himself, Reid is now pushing up close to the shilling gate, but his ability to win primary possession remains keen. The distribution was at the standard he’s set for a decade or more

TIMELESS: Kilkenny’s Tj Reid celebrates scoring a point. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

The narrative which gathered steam since the Munster final - which had surfaced during the Munster final, to be accurate - held that the sturm und drang served up by Limerick and Clare that day was several levels above the fare produced by Kilkenny and Galway in the Leinster final.

Therefore, the logic went, when Clare mobilised their troops for the Leinster champions, reaching that level once again would suffice to dismiss Kilkenny. After five minutes we had a first sighting, or hearing, of My Lovely Rose of Clare. All going according to plan, then. All in keeping with the logic.