KILKENNY'S BRIAN HOGAN:THAT HE was battered then broken for vital periods this season, and considering John Tennyson would be the resident centre back in most counties, the fact Brian Hogan was parachuted straight into the number six jersey for the All-Ireland semi-final tells us a lot.
It means Brian Cody rates him as the lynchpin of this Kilkenny team.
The league final against Tipperary was only in its infancy when Séamus Callanan caught him square with shoulder to collarbone. The five weeks leading into championship, when places are generally cemented, became all about rehabilitation.
It ensured a watching brief for the Galway and Dublin encounters. Of the current panel, only Henry Shefflin (okay, maybe “Cha” or Tommy Walsh or JJ) would come straight back into Cody’s starting XV.
“I suppose I was due one as I was relatively injury free for the last two years,” said the man with the ignominious record of losing his first two championship starts for Kilkenny against Wexford in 2004 and Galway in 2005.
“This year I had the bang against Limerick at the start of the league that was a sign of things to come. The Tipp match was frustrating because it was only eight minutes into it so I didn’t get to participate too much. I got to see extra-time in hospital (“Sitting on a trolley,” he told us later).
“You are missing out on the time of year you want to be hurling. You want to be out training with the lads in sunny weather. Going out for the big days against Galway in Tullamore. All you can do is keep your head and get yourself right.”
Cody, we presume, was present for his return game with O’Loughlin Gaels a week after the Leinster final. Two days later the tall and wiry defender was back honing his touch at Nowlan Park sessions. “I was confident enough that I was ready when selected to play Waterford. If you can handle Nowlan Park marking Henry and the lads you can handle marking most guys.”
Hogan is proof Cody picks his team on performances in training matches.We probe for an insight on Tipperary. If the league final is any indicator, the Munster champions will finally provide the public with some competitive hurling in the All-Ireland final.
Tipperary stumbled against Waterford last year, prompting the question – is this a fixture that we should have seen in 2008?
“No, not really. The year before the same question was asked when Limerick got to the final after beating Waterford. Tipperary made the semi-final, but it was probably a year too early for them. Waterford were the better team on the day.
“You can’t argue with that. Waterford had the experience after years of tough games with Cork in the Munster championship. They were senior players who knew how to win tight games.
“I’m sure if you ask the Tipp lads they probably learned more from that game than they did from winning the National League and everything else. I’ve even heard someone referring to that game in terms of what’s required for championship hurling. Last year we played the best team in the final. That’s championship hurling. The best team will win the match. Whoever wins on September 6th will be the best team.”
Brian Hogan
Club:O'Loughlin Gaels
Position:Centre back
Age:28
Height:6ft 4in
Weight:14st
Occupation:Medical Rep – Grunenthal Pharma
Honours:3 All-Irelands, 5 Leinster, 3 NHL, 2 county titles, 1 Leinster club, 1 Fitzgibbon Cup.
