Ken Hogan is well-placed to judge the changes which have happened over the last 35 years in terms of the commitment required at inter-county hurling level.
Hogan was the Tipperary goalkeeper for their All-Ireland title victories of 1989 and 1991. His son Brian, an All-Ireland winner in 2019, is on the current Tipperary hurling panel.
"It's changed hugely," said Ken Hogan.
"I came into the Tipperary set-up at the end of the famous famine period, 84-85 National Hurling League. Subbed in 1985 and 1986, and eventually got into the team in 1987, the championship.
"But it's changed totally now. In fairness to every manager that I played under, they demanded commitment, we gave as much commitment as we possibly could, but there was always room there for - particularly in the winter months - to enjoy yourselves.
"National League games weren't really taken that seriously at all. You played the game, there was a social aspect afterwards to the match. We often spoke about going down to Wexford, to Enniscorthy, to Belfield, and playing matches there.
"I don't think we ever beat Wexford until the end of my career. We never beat Wexford down there. But by God, you'd get a céad míle fáilte afterwards.
"You'd go down to Murphy Floods Hotel afterwards, and the craic was mighty. A few of us even ended up thumbing home on a Monday morning. That's how good a welcome you'd get.
"From that perspective, you see the lads now, the commitment they put into it, and they're so committed in the way they approach the game.
"I saw Jurgen Klopp coming off the bus after Liverpool playing a game, and he gave a few bottles of beer to lads that were outside looking in. If a Tipperary team bus or a Kilkenny or Limerick team bus had bottles of beer on it, and lads were swigging a few bottles, it would be absolute mayhem. It would be all over the airwaves.
"But in the GAA scene, it's taken so seriously at this stage, sometimes maybe to the detriment of the enjoyment and the overall satisfaction you get out of the game."
This is the 30th season that Allianz has sponsored the Allianz Hurling Leagues, making it one of the longest sponsorships in Irish sport. Pictured at the launch at Lorrha Abbey in Tipperary are former Tipperary GAA goalkeeper Ken Hogan, who played in the first year of the Allianz sponsorship, and his son, Tipperary goalkeeper Brian Hogan. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Hogan is also a successful club hurling manager. He led Coolderry to the Offaly SHC title in 2010 and 2011, winning the Leinster championship following the latter. He also led Borris-Kilcotton to success in Laois.
Late last year - on the same day he managed Lorrha to victory in the Tipperary Junior B Camogie Championship final - he led St Rynaghs to their third consecutive Offaly senior hurling title.
'The club GAA scene has taken on a whole new importance'
"I just had to move with the times," said Hogan when asked if his approach to management has changed over the last decade.
"I was lucky I qualified in physical education, I have an idea with what's going on. I would be doing professional development in those core areas of sports science and things like that. So I would have an idea of what's required.
"But the biggest thing for me is what happens off the pitch. You're obviously talking to the players about their preparation, what they can do. Even Covid highlighted that, with Zoom training sessions, when everybody was training on Zoom.
"If you weren't training, if you weren't in the picture, I'd know you were somewhere else. So everybody was held accountable. It seems now, with the apps on your phone, with the training methods and what you're doing, if you don't do it or haven't completed the programme, you're found out pretty quickly.
"Even at club level, you know, the fitness levels, just look at Ballyhale vs St Thomas’ there, twas as close to inter-county hurling as you’d ever see and the level of fitness.
"But the level of professionalism, both on the sidelines and the way teams are preparing for games - stats and match-ups - nothing is left to chance any more.
"Because of the split season, the club scene has taken on a whole new importance and from that perspective, there’s a higher threshold and higher standards expected."
Featured image: 31 May 2013; Tipperary manager Ken Hogan. Bord Gais Energy Munster GAA Under 21 Hurling Championship, Quarter-Final, Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE
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