"You never want it to stop" - Reid on emotional Kilkenny retirement

Kilkenny's TJ Reid ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

TJ Reid has opened up about the emotion of retiring from inter-county hurling, admitting that walking away from Kilkenny after 20 years was far from easy.

Speaking last night on RTÉ's The Late Late Show, the seven-time All-Ireland winner reflected on a lifetime in black and amber.

“I played hurling with Kilkenny for 20 years, but I was also there for U14, U16, minor, U21 and senior. You never want it to stop because that Kilkenny jersey means something to you,” Reid said.

The Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman revealed just how emotional the end of his career had been.

“I had a moment for three days, I'm not going to lie. It was two decades, 20 years of my life.”

He also admitted to being “bawling crying” as he came to terms with the end of his inter-county journey.

Asked about the significance of representing his county, the seven-time All-Star added:

“It's an honour to wear the Kilkenny jersey. It's an honour to be here in UPMC Nowlan Park. It's an honour to be down in that dressing room. What we do is a privilege.”