Hogan: New guys, same old Kilkenny

For those who were hoping the recent spate of retirements would cause a little slackening of intensity within the Kilkenny panel, Sunday’s demolition job on Tipperary in the opening round of the 2012 Allianz Hurling League is bad news.

Even without Eddie Brennan, Michael Kavanagh, Cha Fitzpatrick, John Dalton and PJ Ryan Kilkenny were as ruthless and ravenous as ever. Those who are gone? Missed right enough, says centre-back Brian Hogan, but the show goes on.

“We’re back [training] about six weeks now and we were just saying it — there’s a big change in the dressing room,” he said.