TJ Reid says he doesn’t have to look any further than global superstars Paolo Maldini, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lebron James for inspiration to continue playing at the highest level.

The 37-year-old Kilkenny sharpshooter is feeling as fit and fresh as ever ahead of his 19th championship campaign which gets underway against Galway at UPMC Nowlan Park tomorrow.

“It's mind over matter. If you allow age to dictate your life, you're on a losing battlefield straight away,” he said at an event to mark Centra’s extension of their All-Ireland SHC sponsorship.

“Most of those guys who are over 35, prolonging their career, they still have that willingness to give it everything. That's the big thing. 

“You look at the likes of Maldini from AC Milan, Lebron, Ronaldo, Messi. I look at all those top, top-class players, they're still dedicating their life to it, and you have to. If you want to reach those barriers, you have to be willing to put in the effort. 

“Most people think that psychologically you have to get older to reduce things, but you don't. The time you do reduce it, that's when you get left behind.”

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