Cool Cats unfazed by critics, says Hogan

ALL may be quiet on the hurling front right now but a handful of the summer’s main protagonists broke the phoney war’s silence yesterday to survey the lay of the land in the months to come.

Normally, championship launches are reserved for headquarters but Ballyboden St Enda’s impressive grounds on Dublin’s southside provided the backdrop for the curtain-raiser on this occasion.

If the venue was different, then the topics of conversation were familiar. The structure of the hurling championship was dusted off for its annual airing and so too was another perennial favourite: who can beat Kilkenny?

Proponents of change have taken heart from spring’s script, one in which Brian Cody’s side lost three times but the suggestion that the reigning champions may be “creaking” is greeted with a chuckle by Brian Hogan.

“We were untouchable two years ago according to people. Now we are on the way out. You just don’t listen to that sort of stuff. That’s for anyone else that wants to talk about it.

“But, it’s ultimately only about the players and the management within the camp. We know how we are going. We will know during the training over the next few weeks how we’re going.

“Really, if you think about it, if we had have beaten Galway in Nowlan Park we would have been in a league final anyway so... it’s not doom and gloom. I wouldn’t be panicking yet.”

Hogan’s confidence is well founded. Four years as All-Ireland champions is a useful buffer against negative whispers and his nod to the game against the league champions is well-made.

Kilkenny lost that shoot-out by a single point. Their defeats against Tipp and Cork were by just four and two points respectively and while operating without a swarm of front-line troops.

Crisis? Hardly.

Brian Cody hasn’t been pulling players aside, questioning their desire and application on the basis of the league and none of their supporters will factor in the NHL when summing up the season come the winter.

This year is about one thing and one thing only as far as Kilkenny and the hurling world is concerned – that five-in-a-row. The only ones not talking it up are the Cats themselves.

“On an individual basis, if a player finds it’s a form of motivation, then fine, use it. Generally speaking, inside the camp, we don’t talk about it. It’s not a major issue. The lads laugh about it because it will be bandied about all around the county as it was last year and the year before.

“Honestly, it’s literally just about this championship. Brian always says that if an All-Ireland in its own right isn’t enough to motivate you, you have a problem. This is why we started hurling; to play for Kilkenny first of all and then play for an All-Ireland and win.

“That’s the drive. When you retire you can look back at three-in-a-row, four-in-a-row, whatever it may be. You can look back at it then but it’s more for the fans. As a player, you can’t get too caught up in that because you are taking your eye off the ball.”

A predictable point, certainly, but one that isn’t without foundation given the accepted wisdom that boats have been rising this last 12 months in Tipperary, Galway, Cork and Waterford.

And yet, if Kilkenny are to make more history they won’t have to clear all those hurdles. In fact, all going well, Kilkenny could well end the summer having played just once a month from June through to September.

Should they again win every championship game they play they will have togged out on June 20, July 4, August 8 and September 5. Not exactly a gruelling schedule but one that contains its own unique dangers nonetheless.

Ten weeks will have elapsed by the time Kilkenny play their provincial semi-final and another five will separate the eventual Leinster champions from their All-Ireland semi-final. Not ideal.

“There is no substitute for game time. All you can do is try replicate that in training. That’s what Brian tries to do, the same intensity and levels.

“You’d like to get out (earlier) in the championship but, look, that’s the draw. We’d like to get ourselves as best prepared as we can and be ready then for whichever one of the three teams comes out of our side of the draw.”

Ready they will certainly be.