Richie Reid has been nominated to captain the Kilkenny senior hurlers for 2022.
Reid, 28, has had the honour bestowed on him by his club Ballyhale Shamrocks, with Kilkenny one of the last two counties, along with Kerry, to maintain the tradition of county champions selecting the team captain.
Given Ballyhale’s success - they’ve won 10 county titles since 2006 - it’s a duty that they’re well used to by now with Henry Shefflin, James Fitzpatrick, Michael Fennelly and Joey Holden having lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup in that period, as well as Fennelly’s uncles Ger and Liam in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Reid succeeds another clubmate Adrian Mullen in the role.
His elder brother TJ skippered the team in 2010 and ‘19 though Richie’s nomination does throw up the possibility of the captain not being a starting player, as has happened on occasions over the years in Kilkenny. While Reid, who was first drafted into the squad as sub goalkeeper some years ago, started all three of Kilkenny’s Championship games in 2021 at midfield, he was also replaced in each of them.
Another Ballyhale man, Eoin Cody, has been named as vice-captain though with the Shamrocks having only lost the All-Ireland club final to Ballygunner earlier this month, it remains to be seen when manager Brian Cody will draft players from the county champions back in
Kilkenny play Laois in their third Allianz League game at Nowlan Park on Sunday.
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