Fogarty and Gaels have come a long way

GIVEN that it was a Kilkenny-man, Dermot Healy, who led Offaly from the hurling wilderness to All-Ireland glory in 1981, it is only fitting that one of the leading members of that side should now be giving something back, down Noreside.

Along with Mick Nolan and Pat Cleere, former Offaly Allstar corner-back Aidan Fogarty (1982 and ’89) is one of a three-man management team of the O’Loughlin Gaels team that face Cork champions Newtownshandrum in Sunday’s All-Ireland club semi-final, in Thurles.

“Offaly will always be my home but I’ve been living in Kilkenny for nearly 20 years and involved with O’Loughlin’s for quite a few years”, he explains. “I’ve been with the senior team for the last six years, was with the U16’s with Brian Murphy, the former Cork player (another multiple Allstar), for a few years before that, so I suppose it’s been the guts of 10 years with the club.”