Hogan eager to seize the moment

January 30, 2011

O'Loughlin Gaels Brian Hogan gets away from Rathdowney/erril's Shane Dollard during the Leinster Club SHC.
O'Loughlin Gaels' Kilkenny star Brian Hogan is hoping to make the most of today's rescheduled Leinster club hurling final against Oulart-the-Ballagh.

It's been seven years since the Kilkenny city side last tasted provincial success, and Hogan knows opportunities like this don't come around too often.

"You have to put pressure on yourself, that's where it really matters. We know ourselves it's never easy to get out of Kilkenny so when you do, you have to push on and take advantage of every opportunity. We know there's a chance there for us to win a Leinster title, but we know we're up against it," said the centre back, who missed last September's All-Ireland final through injury.

"Oulart-The-Ballagh have edged closer and closer, and were very unlucky a couple of times in the last few years. The club scene is different to the county scene, a lot more even. They've been the dominant team in Wexford for years. They ran Ballyhale so close in '09 so it's easy to understand why they're favourites this year - they're certainly more experienced at this level than we are.

"We still have a few who were there with us in 2003, but that's seven years ago. They want to make the final breakthrough, so do we. We've learned from 2003, you have to make the most of your opportunity when it comes; because it might never come again."

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