Hogan, Jim
December 03, 2010The death of All-Ireland winning hurler, Jim Hogan, Lacken, Rathmoyle, Kilkenny has left a huge void in the lives of the many people he touched during his 82 years on Earth.
Originally from Tullaroan, Jim settled in Rathmoyle and was a familiar figure at games all over the county and played a major part in the growth and success of the dicksboro where his sons played.
He was a wonderful human being who was extremely well liked. He farmed and was a farm labourer at different stages in his career. He was honest and trustworthy and extremely inoffensive.
He lived for sport, out-door pursuits and most of all hurling. He enjoyed a very successful hurling career and won a senior All Ireland medal in 1957 when Kilkenny beat Waterford. He made national headlines after his performance in the final of the interprovincial hurling championship in Croke park on St Patrick's Day, 1954. Charged with marking, arguably, the greatest hurler of all time, Christy Ring of Cork, he kept him scoreless to give Leinster victory against Munster in front of a full house at GAA headquaters. At the time the railway cup was of huge significance and that was reflected in the news-papers of the following day where Jim won sports star of the week and was feted as the hero of the match.
On the day of the game, GAA commentator on RTE radio, the late Michael O'Hehir said of Jim: "The short striding long striking Kilkenny man."
The other Kilkenny players on that day were: The Diamond Hayden, Eire Og; Paddy Buggy, Slieverue; team captain Johnny McGovern, Bennettsbridge; John Sutton, Slieverue; Dick Carroll, Thomastwon; Jim Langton, Eire Og; Paul Fitzgerald, Thomastown and Mikey Kelly, Callan.
It was a day that Jim cherished for the rest of his people never tired of hearing all about his duel with Ringy and the rather colourful way that Ring had a describing opponents including Jim Hogan. He said of Ring: "Ring was as good as everyone suggests he was. He had exceptional skill and ball control, was well built and hard to knock off a ball. There was no way you could mix it with him and you didn't push him too hard." Jim was honest enough to admit that he had marked Ring on other occasions without much success. And that was another of Jim's traits, modesty.
Jim also won three Leinster senior championship medal, three Walsh Cups, one Oireachtas medal, two senior county championship in 1948 and 1952 and a Kilkenny schools championship with Tullaroan back in 1942.
His only real regret was losing the 1950 senior hurling final to Tipperary and even then, according to the late Tom Ryall's book on Kilkenny hurling Jim played his part in keeping the defeat to just one point. They lost 1-9 to 1-8 with the Kilkenny goal coming with the last puck of the ball.
Speaking in the church at the end of the Mass, Deputy Phil Hogan said his uncle Jim was hugely loyal to his family, his neighbours and the sporting community. "He regarded the GAA as his devotion in life and one of the greatest amateur sporting organisations in the world. He eopitomised what people refer to as the plain people of Ireland," Deputy Hogan said. Jim horgan was a man of the highest calibre who put his family first and had the welfare of the community at the heart of his existence. He loved hunting and coursing and the outdoor life.
Jim Hogan was laid to rest on Tuesday (yesterday) at Ballykeeffe cemetery after requiem Mass in St Canice's Church, Kilkenny.
The 82-year-old died on Saturday in Waterford Regional Hospital surrounded by members of his family. He is survived by his wife Bridget; sons Philip, Sean, Seamus, William, Richard, Michael and Mark; daughters Josephine, Alice, Breda and Pauline; sister Mai; sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. He was an uncle of Fine Gael TD, Phil Hogan
Courtesy of the Kilkenny People 3/12/10 Tweet
