Wilderness years provide motivation for hopeful Hogan

IT happened nearly seven years ago now on February 14, 2004 in an All-Ireland semi-final, but the memory still haunts O’Loughlin Gaels’ towering centre-back Brian Hogan.

Loughlins were up against Cork and Munster champions Newtownshandrum; they dominated the final quarter, went on an unanswered six-point run to turn a five-point deficit into a lead by a single point, and had all the momentum in their favour.

But they couldn’t close the deal. Into the second minute of injury-time, and Brian and his team-mates can only stand and watch as Ben O’Connor drills a free from wide right over their heads, levelling the game.