Diarmuid Connolly sums up the stunning chasm in humility between Andy Carroll and TJ Reid

Andy Carroll’s ego has been perfectly summed up by one of the best Gaelic footballers in the country.

The West Ham striker grabbed a hat-trick last Saturday against Arsenal, and there is even talk that he could be a late bolter for the England Euro 2016 squad. The former Liverpool striker has just played 50 times for the Hammers since moving on loan initially in 2013, and then permanently to the Hammers in 2014. However, ahead of the FA Cup replay with Manchester United tonight, Carroll feels he is a one-man football juggernaut who cannot be halted by anyone.

"I like to say that if the ball comes in the box I feel I am favourite. I don’t think that anyone else is going to get it – so if that is unplayable, I am unplayable.”

Big words for a man who started his first game since January last weekend, and in stark contrast to comments made by Kilkenny hurler TJ Reid in Croke Park this week. The 2015 Hurler of the Year is an absolute class act, and has taken over the mantle as Kilkenny's on-field leader perfectly since the departure of clubmate, and hurling god Henry Shefflin last year. But when asked if he feels he is in the same bracket of skill as Shefflin, Reid played down his enormous talents in an act of humility Carroll could learn from.

“I’ll never be Henry Shefflin. He’s the king of hurling. I’m looking to do my best out on the hurling field and looking to be the best out there.

Nice words, and the difference between both men's approach to their sport was summed up perfectly by Dublin's own demi-god Diarmuid Connolly on Twitter with a with a perfect hashtag. https://twitter.com/dermoc123/status/720152469590974464 We're finding it very hard to disagree.