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1st February 2024
02:50pm GMT

"It was daunting at the start, but James McGarry was there, he gave me huge confidence, working along with me. I always had a good first touch and an eye for the ball."
"I have very fond memories of that first club All-Ireland playing in the goal," the 30-year-old said.
From there, Reid made his Kilkenny debut in the goals in the 2016 Allianz League against Galway but, around that time, he was beginning to play out-field for the club.
And Brian Cody would play him out the field in the odd internal match at Kilkenny training.
"I was third choice for the first few years, then David Herity left the panel and I was the second choice goalie then.
"I got a few games out the field with the club, was enjoying it.
"And then the first year Henry came in as Ballyhale manager, I said I wanted to concentrate on hurling out the field fully.
"Then training with Kilkenny, I was still sub-goalie but Brian would have put me out for some of the games."
Then in 2017, he made his Kilkenny debut out the field, coming on for Richie Hogan in the Leinster championship.
"I remember then we were playing Wexford in a Leinster championship game, and I was the sub-goalie.
"Someone got injured and Brian said to me, you could also be coming on out the field.
"I said 'aw Jesus, how is this going to work?' So I was wearing 16 the sub goalie jersey and a 16 outfield jersey and I came on that day down in Wexford park. It kind of took off from there."
It's been a case of a slow but steady rise to prominence, and Reid had to remain content with a place on the bench for the majority of the next four seasons. But by 2021, he was starting midfield under Brian Cody, right up to the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork.
In 2022, he was their first choice centre back under Brian Cody, and was nominated for an All-Star that year. In 2023, this time under Derek Lyng, he was again a mainstay at centre back.
"The main driver for it was the club campaigns, getting onto winning Leinster and All-Ireland campaigns with the club out the field," reflects Reid.
"It's a new life for me. All through the years growing up, I was in the forwards or the goals, so it is a new lease of life."
"When I went there with the club, I had Mick Fennelly beside me and I learned so much off him.
"Then with Kilkenny…I probably found it hard at the start to get the position and chance to play there, but when I did then, I just tried to take it on board, and learn as much about it as I could."
"It’s a new lease of life for me."
And you'd have the sense there's a lot more to come.
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