KILKENNY HURLERS BRIAN Hogan and Aidan Fogarty, along with Tipperary’s John O’Brien have all announced their intercounty retirements this morning.
O’Loughlin Gaels player Hogan won seven All-Ireland senior medals during his career while Emeralds player Fogarty claimed eight with the Cats. Toomevara native O’Brien won two All-Ireland senior medals with Tipperary during his inter-county career.
Hogan made his announcement on the Kilkenny GAA website, O’Brien’s decision was confirmed on the Tipperary GAA website while Fogarty’s retirement was revealed on KCLR 96FM.
The departures of Hogan and Fogarty represent a further changing of the guard in Kilkenny as they come on the back of the recent retirements of Tommy Walsh and David Herity. Neither player featured in September’s All-Ireland final replay win over Tipperary but Hogan had started the drawn game while Fogarty came on as a sub. O’Brien was introduced for Tipperary during both games against Kilkenny.
The trio retire with a huge amount of honours as they compiled 17 All-Ireland senior medals between them and 22 provincial senior medals. Hogan was also an Allstar winner in 2011 and 2012.
Here’s what they had to say in their official retirement statements:
Brian Hogan
“It is with great sadness that I wish to announce my retirement from intercounty hurling.
The past decade in the black and amber jersey, have been some of the greatest times of my life. I have had the opportunity to play both with, and against, some of the finest players ever to play the game. I leave with the greatest of memories of the best of friendships.
“I feel extremely privileged to have been involved in one of the most successful periods in Kilkenny hurling; and as I leave, what I’ll take most ‐ is the memory of the time spent with the lads, who I was lucky enough to call my teammates and friends.
“I’d like to thank my club, O’Loughlin Gaels for their constant support and contribution to my development as a player. In particular, I’d like to thank them for giving me the honour of captaining the Kilkenny team in 2011.
“It was an incredible honour to lead such an amazing group of players, and I did so as a proud O’Loughlins man. I look forward to returning to St. Johns Park to finish my hurling career where it all began.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Brian Cody and his management teams, for seeing potential in me, and for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my childhood dreams and aspirations.
“In addition, I’d like to thank the Kilkenny county board, Kilkenny supporters and sponsors Glanbia for all their support over the years. I’d also like to thank my coaches throughout my school days; in St John’s, St Kieran’s and finally in UCD, who all contributed to my development as a player.
“To my employers Gruenthal Pharma, I’d like to thank them sincerely for their constant support. I’d also like to thank them for their understanding and flexibility, in facilitating my inter-county commitments.
“Finally, I’d like to say a special word of thanks to my family, who instilled in me, a love for the game of hurling from an early age, and for their continued support and encouragement.
“In particular I’d like to thank my wife Elaine, who has been with me since the beginning of this inter-county journey, and who has been a constant source of support and advice throughout those years.
“I’d like to wish Brian, the management team and the Kilkenny panel the very best luck in the coming season.
“Go raibh maith agaibh, Brian Hogan”
Aidan Fogarty
“After eleven years I am withdrawing from the Kilkenny senior hurling panel. I make this decision totally comfortable in the knowledge that now is the right time for me to move on. Playing hurling for Kilkenny at the highest level has been exciting, enjoyable, rewarding and, at times, challenging.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the people who have supported, encouraged or who have just been there for me during this chapter of my life. I wish to thank Brian Cody and the various management teams for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a successful panel for so long.
“The Kilkenny county board deserve huge credit for how they look after their players. I am grateful to my club Emeralds and the many coaches who have helped me develop my skills and achieve my potential.
“My employer, C.B.E. have facilitated me in every way possible. In a special way I thank my girlfriend, Ailish, my father, my family and mentor for their patience and support. I remember my late uncle, Pa Dillon for his pride and confidence in me. I wish the Kilkenny team and management every success in the years ahead.”
John O’Brien
“I wish to announce my retirement from the Tipperary hurling team. It has been an honour to have represented my county at senior level since my debut in 2001.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me and made it possible for me to play, most importantly my family and friends, my club Toomevara, the management and backroom teams throughout those years which are too many to mention and also the Tipperary public.
“I have made many great friends over those years and I would like to wish the current panel and management team the very best of luck.”
The fight reminded me of the Simpsons episode when Homer fought hobo Boxcar Bob in Moe’s Bar
@Stipe Miocic: boxcar willy.
‘You couldn’t give me one measly round moe’
Lucius sweet
Absolutely pointless fight, he gained nothing from it.
@Stephen Duggan: id say his bank account gained a couple of Gs
Good to see him back. He was always going to win, needs a few more fights under his belt to get back into the groove. Great entrance as well!
A total farce and Wilder or Joshua will destroy him
@Brocky Jennings: Ya think? Give him a couple of higher Calibre opponents and get him back to previous levels and I think he beats both.
@EnKy: well said . HD can beat anyone as long as he’s on his game . He def beats wilder in my eyes but not 100% sure about Joshua . Anyone who says he can’t beat either know little
Of course he could’ve
Nice classy “fans”.
Not in this or any other lifetime