TJ REID has called on the Cats to sharpen their claws for the All-Ireland semi-finals.
The Kilkenny legend fired 1-4 as they sealed their SIXTH Leinster title in a row against Galway at Croke Park.
Goals from Mossy Keoghan at the end of each half proved vital against the Tribes, as Huw Lawlor starred at full-back.
Reid’s second half goal helped steer Derek Lyng’s men 13 points ahead coming down the stretch.
But a stunning Galway revival saw the Tribes get back within four, before Keoghan’s second strike sealed their SEVENTH All-Ireland semi-final on the bounce.
And iconic stalwart Reid, 37, insists they have huge work to do if they want to end their 10-year wait for Liam MacCarthy after letting Galway back into the game and firing 11 wides.
He told SunSport: “We have things to work on for sure. but look, we have a Leinster title, it’s what’s coming home.
“It’s time to reset, refocus and take one or two days off and sharpen up for the next four weeks.
“We hurled well, very happy with the outcome, we move on now to four weeks off which is a blessing.
“But look, we weren’t efficient – first half especially and there were probably four or five points there that we left behind.
“We weren’t efficient, we dropped five short there in the second half, we weren’t efficient there either, and it makes life a lot easier for the opposition to reset and go after us again.
“We hurled well in the second half but we weren’t happy with their goal that they got from the free.
“It’s something that we should look back on now and try to figure out what happened and try to rectify it.
“We were over 10 points up and they got it back to four, and it just put pressure on things and we shouldn’t allow that to happen.
“But we responded well, and Mossy got the goal at the end to finish the game.
“We targeted the Leinster final of course, it makes life a lot easier instead of going through the back door – and a Leinster final is one you want to win.”
Reid scored his fifth championship goal this summer to bag his 14th provincial medal.
Croke Park goals are always sweet – and his green flag ended a super team move when Keoghan fed him and Reid did the rest.
But he knows team performances are what matter most as they head into the last four along with newly-crowned Munster champions Cork.
TIME TO BLOSSOM
He said: “Croke Park is where you want to be blossoming and Mossie..we turned over a ball again, through hard work from Stevie Donnelly.
“I think it was John Donnelly; both of them combined and then Mossie broke onto it and I peed away from Daithí Burke.
“And again, look, it’s all about team play and team work. and Mossie saw me inside and popped it to me.
“Every team tries to be efficient and to pick the player in the best position. and if you see it, give it – don’t hesitate, if he’s ten yards in a better position you always try to feed him.
“I’m around a while so it could be 14 but look, it’s all about being present and winning the next one.”
