O'Loughlin Gaels manager Hogan happy to back up county final win

Despite only winning five Kilkenny senior hurling titles in total, O’Loughlin Gaels have tended to excel in Leinster competition afterwards and they look set for another extended run in the competition.

O’Loughlin’s manager Brian Hogan was the captain the last time they entered provincial action and his side were much too good for Mount Leinster Rangers on Sunday.

“A win is a win,” he said. “Coming off the back of the county final it was important just to get on the road.

“We knew Mount Leinster would be a serious test, they had a long lead-in time to prepare for it.

“We’re relieved,” in the end. “I suppose there was a period in the second half there where we lost our shape and got very sloppy.

“To be fair they were always going to get a period of dominance and it was that period, but overall a nine point margin at the end of it, we would have taken that before the match.”

Mount Leinster Rangers threatened to make a real game of it in the second period and Hogan summed up why his team were on the backfoot for the majority of the third quarter.

“I think there was some poor decision making for the large part and not executing chances, fumbling balls, overdoing it at times,” he said.

“You are playing a quality opposition and if you are making those mistakes you are going to give them a great chance.

“I just thought we were possibly a bit complacent in the second half having got a good lead at half-time.

“They came out obviously hard at the start of the second half and we probably didn’t react as well as we could have.”

Not for the first time this year O’Loughlin’s really showed the strength in depth at their disposal with Luke Hogan scoring a goal off the bench.

“The boys are probably getting sick to the teeth getting referred to as coming off the bench and the impact they are making,” the manager said. “I’m sure they are looking to be starting.

“Luke Hogan had a bad injury earlier in the year and it has taken him a while to come back but he did make a big impact when he came in - he’s a powerful runner and really good hurler.

“Conor Kelly and Jamie Ryan came in too. while we were trying to bring in another guy, Ronan Buckley as well,” he added. “We have a strong bench, which we know we’ll need because you will be tested in this competition whether it be through injury or form.

“The boys came in at a challenging time during the second half and I felt they did help us steady the ship and they did make an impact.”

With O’Loughlin’s now only one win away from a Leinster final appearance in Croke Park, the former All-Ireland winning captain is hopeful his side can give the campaign a rattle.

“Absolutely, there’s no reason why not,” he said. “The county final is done and dusted now.

“To be fair to the lads, that’s their mindset as well. That’s what they have spoken about.

“The county final was great and there will be plenty of time to look back on it whenever this is finished, but you kind of owe it to yourself as much as anything to give it a good crack.”