Rising Kilkenny star TJ Reid will crown a remarkable year on a personal level if Ballyhale Shamrocks can overcome Birr in Sunday's Leinster club hurling final at Nowlan Park. The highly-rated forward has already won a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with Limerick IT as well as All-Ireland senior and under 21 medals with Kilkenny, and now Birr stand between him and yet another medal. The 21-year-old said: "Two years ago, we won Leinster and went on to win the All-Ireland and if we had Henry (Shefflin and 'Cha' (Fitzpatrick) we could have gone further last season." Birr, who ended Ballyhale's reign at the Leinster semi-final stage last year, will have key forward Stephen Brown available for Sunday's showdown at Nowlan Park following his return from the US, but Brian Whelahan looks set to miss out with the knee injury he sustained in the quarter-final win over Ballyboden St. Enda's. Both Colin Fennelly and Brendan Costelloe are rated doubtful for the Kilkenny kingpins. Tweet

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