TJ Reid is most definitely one of the greatest to ever grace the game, there is no doubt about that.
He is still very much the present within Kilkenny hurling, the beacon for what Kilkenny hurling is all about. Fans await his return to the Black and Amber after another successful club All Ireland series, and it is hoped the top scorer in half of the last four campaigns will return in time to meet Limerick in the League Final.
In his absence when it comes to free-taking, Billy Drennan has stepped up to the plate. Scoring an incredibly impressive 1-52 of his 2-65 total from dead-ball situations. This has many begging the question, what happens when TJ returns?
Speaking to Scoreline eight-time All Ireland winner Aidan “Taggy” Fogarty believes the decision is still up in the air, with TJ’s experience in the Championship possibly being the deciding factor;
See also: Kilkenny advance to the league final after defeating Cork in UPMC Nowlan Park
“He will push TJ on the frees. If you go back over the years, DJ Carey was the free-taker and was still playing when Henry Shefflin came on the scene. Then they put Henry on the frees, so I do not know what Derek will do.”
“He was flawless (against Cork) from every angle, from out the field, he scored 4 65s at an ease. The rest he potted, not one miss, and one from play, he was flawless.”
“He will push TJ, Cork was a big test for him. The pressure of Championship, and being a point down, it is a different level of free taking. He will definitely be the next free taker whether he will take it from TJ when he comes back, well it will be a decision for Derek Lyng.”
Listen back to Taggy’s thoughts below on Big Game Live: