WITH THE PAIN of last year\u2019s final defeat to Clara still fresh in the memory, O\u2019Loughlin Gaels centre-back Brian Hogan couldn\u2019t contain his delight after his side scored a surprise victory against Ballyhale Shamrocks in this year\u2019s Kilkenny SHC final.<\/p>\n
The former Cats defender was beaming after their 0-19 to 1-12 victory against TJ Reid, Henry Shefflin and Co yesterday, and struggled to explain how important the victory was to the club, their first county title since 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t say how much this means, it\u2019s unreal,\u201d club captain Hogan told Newstalk\u2019s Oisin Langan after the game in Nowlan Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always worth it.\u00a0In Kilkenny, they are [county titles] so bloody hard to get.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be lying if I said there wasn\u2019t some soul searching done over the winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe panel were just so focused after the disappointment of last year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hogan and his team-mates formed a united front this campaign, and embarked on a fundraising mission to build a gym in the club.<\/p>\n
But it was a speech from his fellow stalwart Martin \u2018Gorta\u2019 Comerford after last year\u2019s final that Hogan felt really brought the players together.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone who is the dressing room last year after we lost to Clara will know where that [motivation] came from.<\/p>\n
\u201cGorta was captain last year and he said some words in the dressing room.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t talk about it all year until today really. It was emotional. He just said, \u2018look lads it\u2019s in our hands to come back next year and it\u2019s a test of what we\u2019re made of\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t make a big deal of it during the year and today was the day to bring it back to the forefront, to use it in a constructive way.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we did I think. You could see that in the second half. There was no way we were losing that match, no way.\u201d<\/p>\n
An emotional Comerford, who scored two points in the win, was equally delighted but keen to highlight how difficult the Kilkenny crown is to win, especially considering the gaps in the club schedule.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe Kilkenny championship is not conducive to many games sometimes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two parts to the season. You start off in April and then there\u2019s a big break.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could go 12 weeks without a competitive game which is absolutely ridiculous but we just have to try to peak at the right time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to get that right. And we did, and we\u2019re absolutely delighted to get over the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Comerford singled out Mark Bergin for particular praise after the forward chipped in with 11 points from placed balls.<\/p>\n
\n Mark Bergin celebrates the win.<\/p>\n
Source: James Crombie\/INPHO<\/p>\n
\u201cMark is always a star for us, he\u2019s a great club man,\u201d Comerford added.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe hit the frees spot on, one after the other.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose when he\u2019s up against a free-taker of TJ Reid\u2019s standard you want to be on your game. Thankfully Mark hit frees from all angles.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a dagger in the opposition\u2019s heart every time they go over.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter last year\u2019s pain and hurt we\u2019re delighted to put the club back in a good position going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
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