hurling

Richie Hogan reflects on career in 'GAA Minor Moments' podcast

04 June 2024 - 11:00AM

Episode Six of the Electric Ireland ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast, featuring Kilkenny hurling legend, Richie Hogan.

Electric Ireland, proud sponsor of the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships, has today released Season Three, Episode Six of the ‘GAA Minor Moments’ podcast, featuring Kilkenny hurling legend and former Minor player, Richie Hogan.

Having recently retired in 2023, after winning 7 All-Ireland Medals for Kilkenny, Richie Hogan touches on adjusting to life after hurling. Now living in Dublin, he is relieved from the travel and the stress it had on his body in recent years, which contributed towards some of the injuries he endured. Reflecting back to his younger days, Richie emphasises the big changes in the training of young GAA players growing up, especially around strength and conditioning which he believes certainly helps with overall robustness.

Growing up playing handball, alongside the hurling, Richie highlights how his reaction to speed of ball, vision and co-ordination were all enhanced on the pitch because of his time spent on the court. Speaking fondly of his “amazing” minor days, when asked his Minor Moment to last a lifetime, Richie remembers beating Tipperary in the Minor All Ireland Semi-Final on August 8^th, 2004, this happened to fall on the same day as his birthday. Minor hurling holds a great place in Richie’s heart as he emphasises how bitterly disappointed he was to have never won a Minor All-Ireland medal.

As Richie’s career continued, he revisits the first time he was called up to the Senior Kilkenny Hurling team. Being familiar with the majority of the team viewing some of them as idols from a young age, Hogans induction into the team didn’t faze him and after 2009 he became one of the all-time greats for the cats. Richie highlights 2015 as being one of his best years in his career. Offering one piece of advice to young minor players coming up the ranks, Hogan said “take the opportunity when it comes and enjoy it”, a lesson he learned in the early stages of his career.

Richie speaks on the frontloaded success in his career comparing it to the later success of some other GAA stars such as Stephen Cluxton. Fergal and Richie speak on the current state of Kilkenny hurling, touching on Brian Cody and Derek Lyng, on pitch positioning, as well as some of the top hurling teams across the country right now, such as Limerick and Clare.

Electric Ireland’s ‘GAA Minor Moments’ Podcast airs on Tuesdays throughout the Electric Ireland Camogie & GAA Minor Championships as well-known Irish stars share memories from their early sporting careers, reflecting on the defining moments from playing Minor and how it shaped them, both on and off the pitch.

Season Three Episode One featured Kilkenny camogie legend, Ann Downey, with Episode Two featuring former Tipperary player and author Eimear Ryan, Episode Three featuring former Antrim Camogie captain Jane Adams, Episode Four featuring current Head Coach of Team USA Boxing, Billy Walsh and most recently Season Three Episode Five featuring Dublin Legend Alan Brogan. This season, Fergal will be joined by a host of excellent guests including Tony Griffin and many more as they reflect on their time spent playing Minor and shed light on some great personal stories.

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