TJ Reid believes Ballyhale Shamrocks recent glorious run would have been tarnished if they had lost to Ballygunner in last season's All-Ireland club semi-finals.
The nine-in-a-row Waterford champions stopped Ballyhale from recording the first national three-in-a row when they won the 2022 final with a last-minute goal.
When the sides met again last December, Ballygunner were marginal favourites, something that the Kilkenny star says severely grated on Shamrocks.
"That was special," he said of the 1-16 to 0-16 win that set up a final meeting with Dunloy. "That was a victory because we were being written off.
"Two quality teams. They've won nine in a row, we’ve achieved five in a row. So two massive, massive clubs.
"Everyone was talking about Ballygunner being the best club team ever. It was a bit disrespectful after what our club Ballyhale Shamrocks has achieved over the last 10 years. Ballygunner beat us in the final a year ago so to get revenge… revenge is sweet when it works out.
"That game meant a lot to the parish of Ballyhale - it hurt them as well that people were speaking so little of Ballyhale Shamrocks and regarding Ballygunner as the favourites. No fault of Ballygunner, the media and the press were highlighting that.
"That was probably the biggest game I’ve played in terms of the hype and what’s at stake because we felt as a club, if we lost that game, everything that we’ve done over the last five years would have been tarnished."
Ballyhale went on to beat the Antrim men by a seven-point margin that was more flattering than the scoreline suggests.
"For the Ballygunner game, it was being said they were favourites, we were the underdogs. Straight away, for the final it was "you'll beat Dunloy" or "it’s an easy one for us… you have the game won."
"That was the most difficult thing. It was a very dangerous game. We very much emphasised that in the build-up because if you start listening to people we could get caught.
"We respected Dunloy and that’s why we pushed on to win the game. They’ve won four in a row up in Antrim as well. So it was more relief when we got there.
"We didn’t perform to our full calibre. I think we were a bit nervous after last year. Until really the 58th minute til we turned on the style and finished strongly."
The 35-year-old, who was speaking after being named Gaelic Writers' Association Hurling Personality of the Year for 2022, said he was back in training but unlikely to feature for Derek Lyng's Kilkenny until the Leinster championship.
"I'm working with the physios and the strength and conditioning coaches because I have a few little niggles that I’ve played through the whole club championship again. The last two years, it has been intense.
"I more than likely won't feature in the league with the few injuries I have. If things are okay and the niggles are gone, we’ll probably have a chat then to see about availability.
"Derek has been great as well. I had a newborn baby and had a week or two there as well to spend time with the family, which is very respectful."
Reid, who won his sixth All-Star last year after spearheading Kilkenny's march to the final, also gave an insight into his renowned aerial ability.
It turns out he strikes off his left in hurling but is naturally right-handed, allowing him to catch the ball with his dominant hand.
"If you give me something to hold or strike with, I'll pick it up with my left hand," he said. "If I’m writing something with a pen or shaking hands, it would be my right. I'm a little bit unusual that way.
"As a young boy, it was something I just took to and grew into it. It’s more natural to catch with your good hand than your bad hand, so that’s one of the perks with it that my catching hand is available on my right side."
