"I got a game a couple of years ago," remembers Eoin Murphy.
Now well-established as Kilkenny number one between the posts - along with being the best keeper in the game - there was a time when the 27-year-old was both a goalkeeping and outfield option for Brian Cody.
Murphy had played a little bit out the pitch for the U21s. His chance with the senior side came during a 2012 league game against Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh, playing corner forward.
"Brian Murphy roasted me down in Cork," Murphy told Balls at the launch of the Leinster Hurling Championship.
"I got two pucks the same day, I played a pass to Michael Rice for a point in the second half but I got one [other] puck in the second half and he blocked me down. That's all I had, I remember it vividly.
"Brian was brilliant, I've never seen anyone like it. He was able to read my body movement - if I was turning left or right - there was no sort of half throwing him off or getting that half a yard.
"He was the best corner-back in the country along with the likes of Jackie Tyrrell for ten years. They were playing a level different to everyone else at that time."
Murphy admits that physically, he was not in the prime shape he now finds himself in.
Look, things didn't go well for me, I would have loved to get another shot but that's the way it goes.
I would have been the third keeper at that stage as well and management made it clear to me. I didn't go in not knowing where I was going to play. They said they were going to give me a chance outfield, see how it goes.
Early the following year, seven-time All-Ireland-winning keeper, PJ Ryan, called time on his career. Murphy's days as a dual option were done - Kilkenny management wanted him to concentrate solely on being a keeper.
The urge to play outfield is still there for Murphy but he'll leave whether it happens or not up to Brian Cody. Ultimately, he'd play anywhere just to pull on the Kilkenny jersey.
"I'd love to get a run at it but my job now is in the goal and if I have to go corner-back or full-back, I'll approach it the exact same way: giving it 100 per cent. I just love hurling, I've played every position in my club, probably, apart from the full-back line.
"I played a game at 16 or 17 in the goal and from there I've played in the half-back line, midfield all the way through to the forwards. I genuinely don't mind it.
"It's just hurling, you want to play games and that's it. If I had a preference, I would say out the field but I'm playing in goal at the moment, competing for a spot there.
"There is great competition there - Darren Brennan has been a brilliant goalkeeper for the last five years underage with Kilkenny. He was two or three years under-21 and two minor. He was brilliant and made great stops.
"That competitive nature is good for guys, it gets the best out of lads and I feel it's getting the best out of me too."
