Hogan has to shelve emotions

TO DISCUSS a meeting of the Offaly and Dublin hurling champions in a Leinster club semi-final, Liam Hogan is the only man to turn to. Hogan gave most of his life to Coolderry but as manager of Ballyboden St Enda’s the emotional link must be shelved come Sunday afternoon.

“Yeah, I’ll have me own mother giving out to me,” the south Offaly man chuckles. “Yes, I was down there for the county final cheering my head off. I’ll be so zoned into the game that none of that will come into my head. I did say it to someone the other day that it will be harder on my poor mother than on me.”

The Hogan bloodline in Coolderry continues to run deep; his brother Colman being the current club chairman. “All my family are up to their neck in Coolderry – on both sides of the family. I have given the best years of my life to the club, only coming to Ballyboden near the end of my hurling career. And then I got involved in coaching. Home is where the heart is but come Sunday I will be a Ballyboden man. For that hour anyway.”

Hogan’s side recently confirmed their dominance of the county scene, in this a potentially golden era for hurling in Dublin, with a fifth title. And all this without their two most influential players.

Conal Keaney’s hugely impressive form this year was halted after coming off his motorcycle back in August, while Dublin captain Stephen Hiney has been nursing severed knee ligaments for several months now.

David Sweeney makes it a trio of intercounty quality that Ballyboden must plan without, although he should be on the bench this weekend. “We just had to plan ahead and the rest of the guys had to step up to the plate.”

An example is given. Driving in off the Firhouse road on Tuesday morning, Hogan was heartened to see an established Dublin hurler like Simon Lambert banging a sliotar off the wall. All alone and hours from training, he was still at it when Hogan departed.

“Conal Keaney has always been the quiet leader. He rarely speaks in the dressingroom. As a matter of fact, the only time I ever heard him was before we went out for the final in 2007 – to win our first county title. He leads by his actions on the field.

“Stephen Hiney is a born leader – that’s why he is the Dublin captain. But since we lost those two guys it is no one person who has done it. I have been surprised by the younger lads like Niall McMorrow, Dean Curran and even young Stephen Nagle in his first year at corner back. They have really shown great leadership qualities in their preparation for the game.”

No Keaney, No Hiney and a wave of quality like the Brady brothers, Joe and Kevin, and Brendan O’Meara bearing down on them. Brian Carroll, Kevin Connolly and Damien Murray too. Men that Hogan knows all about. Makes for a captivating subplot.

Will you be allowed down to the club house again should Ballyboden prevail? “I’ll be getting no more apple tart and cream in Ballyegan!”