Bolt can hold back but Cats certainly can’t, insists Fogarty
The Cats’ backroom member was rejecting suggestions Kilkenny hold anything in reserve when playing championship games.
“Sometimes people pretend or think that we’re holding back, but we don’t do that,” said Fogarty.
“Every other team is the same. I can assure you that every team goes out to give 100% in a big match, and if they could at all, they’d have the other team blown out of the water after 10 minutes. Anyone who’d tell you different is telling a lie.
“Anyone saying ‘we’re going out to give 80% today, we’ll be holding a bit back for the next day’ is either a fool or a liar.
“You can’t do that in sport. Maybe Usain Bolt can pull up when he sees the end line, but in hurling it doesn’t work that way.
“You go out to do your living best every day, but your best is only what the opposition is going to let you give, too. The fact that we have an extra game this year is irrelevant, really.”
Fogarty also rubbished suggestions that Kilkenny’s preparations would be hampered by having to peak for Tipperary this Sunday in the All-Ireland semi-final.
“It hasn’t thrown our preparations out. We prepare for every match as it comes and we don’t have any great method of timing our run or anything.
“We prepare 100% for every game and we try to go on to the next one.
“We’d never look beyond the match we’re involved in. It’s no secret. We make no secret of our desire to win every game we’re involved in, we don’t hold back.”
Fogarty confirmed that Kilkenny will have a full panel to select from for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final. Though Richie Hogan is suspended after picking up a red card against Limerick in the All-Irelandquarter-final, Brian Hogan is in line to start again at centre-half back, while star forward Richie Power has overcome the effects of a heavy knock picked up against Limerick.
See full interview intomorrow’s Weekend Sport
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