Kilkenny hurling star TJ Reid and teammates visit Conor McGregor’s pub The Black Forge Inn after All-Ireland heartbreak
KILKENNY hurlers swapped their sticks for a UFC belt as they visited Conor McGregor's pub in the aftermath of their All-Ireland final agony.
The players have been taking the last few days off after they came up short against the history-making three-in-a-row winner's Limerick on Sunday.
Brothers TJ and Richie Reid were joined by Conor Fogarty and Walter Walsh as they visited the now famous Black Forge Inn in Crumlin.
The lads were beaming as they posed for pictures with McGregor's UFC Championship belt with a member of the pub's staff.
The Black Forge Inn has become somewhat of a destination with Ex-Arsenal ace Ian Wright and singer James Arthur visiting the pub this year.
McGregor is hoping to open a second pub in the near future.
As the Kilkenny players attempt to get over their crushing loss, there are reports that legendary manager Brian Cody may be leaving his position in the hot seat.
Cody has been at the helm for 24 years, however, senior figures in Kilkenny suspect an announcement could be imminent without knowing when.
Sunday's loss was Kilkenny's third All-Ireland final defeat on the bounce, following losses to Tipperary in 2016 and 2019.
Should Cody indeed leave the Cats, it would mark the quintessential end of an era, both for the county and for hurling as a whole.
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He has been in charge of Kilkenny since 1998 and guided them to 11 All-Ireland titles and 17 finals in 24 years.
They were, by far, the most successful county in that time, with Tipperary and Limerick (both four) the next most successful sides.
Their last Liam MacCarthy Cup came in 2015, however, and while they have made it to three finals since, they lost twice to Tipp and once to the Treaty.