In some ways Ken and Brian Hogan are no different to any father and son when it comes to their sporting relationship. There is a time to give encouragement, a time when it's not needed, a time to step in with advice and a time when it's not wanted.
In other ways they're completely unique, both All-Ireland hurling winners with Tipperary, both as goalkeeper, and both deeply invested in the fortunes of their home club and county. It's not as if they can pretend otherwise.
They're not the first to share such status and won't be the last, and they're here together to talk about the start of another Allianz Hurling League – and how that relationship has evolved over time.
Ken was still playing with Tipperary when Allianz began their league sponsorship, 30 years ago, an All-Ireland winner in 1989 and 1991, also winning the league in 1988; Brian had just turned 23 when he won the 2019 All-Ireland with Tipperary, his performance in goal also winning him an All Star, just like his father before him.
Last summer, however, Brian lost his place in goal, a result in part from symptoms of vertigo brought on by a training collision with Willie Connors, days before Tipperary played Galway in the league on May 22nd. Barry Hogan (no relation) took over the No 1 jersey and held it for Tipperary's three matches last summer.
The vertigo, Brian explains, is sometimes triggered by allergies too, particularly hay fever; still he’s no doubt the Tipperary medical team were right to stand him down.
“It was only a few days after I was feeling awful, head spinning, and as a goalkeeper, when you’re vision is not right, it is scary thing,” says Brian.
“I was out for two or three weeks, that put me back a small bit. But Barry in fairness deserved it, it’s going to be another great battle this year, we’re going to drive each other, that’s the great aspect to it.
“It was just the way it worked out last year, it’s difficult losing your place. But we have a fantastic relationship, and long may we battle for that number one position.”
It was at that point too when his father had to think about what to say to his son, Ken’s own playing and management days leaving him with little doubt.
“I think it’s more important to be in his ear when he needs that boost, or he needs a bit a confidence,” says Ken. “This is a team game. It’s not like the loneliness of the long-distance runner, you’re not on your own out there on the running on the roads, trying to motivate yourself.
Team game
“So I always emphasise that to the lads, that you must to hang in there, stick with the lads. You’re going into train with 15, 20, 25 guys, and the beauty of a team game is that they are always other lads around you.
“So from Brian’s perspective, whether you lose your place, are injured or concussed or have vertigo, and there’s huge frustration involved in contact sport, as Padraic Maher has found out now. It’s character-forming as well, how do you recover from this, how do you rebound, are you going to lie down under this, take the easy option?
“So you’ve got to be positive, be matter-of-fact. Brian is 25 now, and even though he was relatively young when he was introduced, you still have to lay down a marker like any other player. So you’re giving that positive message in the ear the whole time, but also say you deserve nothing in life, you’ve to earn it.
“It’s is frustrating as a family, when you see your youngster hurt, or injured, or going through a situation where you’re not making the team, but you have be 110 per cent behind the whole team ethos, and stand by each other. He’d be mature enough, from that point of view, he would take the knocks, get on with it, so just hoping for clean run of health now.”
It’s during such setbacks that family support, of his father and his mother Joan too, also became more important to Brian, not that he ever felt short of it; nor did he feel any great burden growing up the son of a famous father.
“Of course, you’re always recognised by Ken, ‘that’s Ken’s lad’, and you want to bring your part out a bit more, try to be yourself and get away from that in a way. But obviously I’m very proud of what Ken has done, as a goalkeeper, and as a manager and coach, he’s had huge success and you have to be very, very proud. And I do look up to that, and he gives me great inspiration for my career going forward, So it’s not a burden and at all, it’s a very proud thing.
“He’s there all the time, whenever I have to call him, anything like that. And he does let me do my own thing, wouldn’t really be in my ear at all, when I’m away with Tipperary, he lets me row my own boat really, gives me my own space.”
Ken has also found he’s more comfortable watching his son play when that bit more detached, like when offering analysis on radio: “At minor level, his initial introduction to inter-county hurling, you’d be pucking every ball with him. I think once he got to under-20 level, senior level, things improved.
“I’d be doing analysis with Tipp FM, thought I’d be better going down to watch this with Joan, as a supporter, rather than being involved in the analysis. And funny, I find it a lot easier to me immersed in the game, than actually being down with Joan, the elbows going into the ribs, and just not being myself. Because I have a job to do it takes my mind off the situation of Brian playing out there.”
