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.

“We lost a lot of big characters, seasoned guys and senior players. In its own way that brings a bit of freshness because there are a lot of young guys there now, 19, 20 years old, experiencing it all for the first time.

“That’s the nature of sport, it doesn’t stand still for anyone. Talking to the boys that are gone over the last few weeks, they have nothing but great memories and great things to say about it. That hits home to the rest of us. We know we have to make the most of it because it’s going to come to all of us eventually.”

A few of those who retired did so because of age but two — John Dalton and Cha Fitzpatrick — are still in their prime. While accepting the validity of their reasoning, Brian wouldn’t be surprised if both returned to the fold.

“There’s no reason why not. Both of them are only 26 [Cha recently turned 27], so it’s very young. Look at what Cha won for his age, it’s phenomenal, and it’s the same with John.

“For whatever reason they decided that they wanted a break. Cha came straight through from minor and he never really had that year or two off so he has done a lot of hurling. You have to take in that he was hurling for a club like Ballyhale too, who have been very successful.

“John has been there for a good few years too and he got his chance two years ago. He said if he’s hurling well in the future he’d be delighted to come back and he said there’s no bitterness. It was just something he had to do.”

Eoin Larkin took over from Hogan as Kilkenny captain for 2012 and he was one of the many who hit the ground running on Sunday, his goal in the 42nd minute putting real daylight between themselves and the their closest rivals of the past three years.

No big deal, says the Army Corporal, this is just the Kilkenny way.

“We’re after training hard for nearly two months and as they say, you only get out of something what you put into it. We’ve been training hard, really looking forward to getting back into action, and that was the start of it.”

Nothing fazes them, these lads – nothing. The new league format?

“I don’t really think about it,” said Larkin. “All I want to do is play hurling and I’d say that’s the same for all the lads, we’re enjoying it. The GAA makes the decisions and whatever format they decide in, that’s it, we just have to cope with it.”

Being switched from wing-forward to full-forward to centre-forward, in the same game?

“I’m happy enough wherever I’m playing. Anywhere on the Kilkenny panel is a good place to be.!”

The captaincy? “It’s no burden, every one of us is a leader. All it means is that if we’re lucky enough to win anything I’ll be the one to accept the trophy on behalf of the team, that’s all. Everyone does their own job, the captain does nothing special.”