Patrick Horgan: There's not much to celebrate really, we're back where we're supposed to be

Patrick Horgan is glad the season is over after Glen Rovers secured their top-tier return on Sunday afternoon.

The city side defeated Blarney in the Co-Op SuperStores SAHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on a scoreline of 3-17 to 1-13 with Hoggie hitting 2-6 (1-4 f).

The famed Blackpool outfit were on its knees 13 months ago after losing their top-flight status for the first time in 97 years. They came through every task this season.

“We are glad to be back in the top flight,” the Cork hurler said to The Echo post-match.

"We had a blip I suppose last year. We felt this year that we were too good of a team to be down a grade. That’s not taking away from the teams that are at Senior A level obviously. We came up against some very good teams and Blarney are obviously a savage team as well. We are a very good side and we felt that this shouldn’t have been the grade for us.

There’s not much to celebrate really. I am glad the season is over. 

"We are back where we are supposed to be. The big thing this year was how we were going to gear up for most of the games. People thought it was going to be hard, but we found it easy to be honest because we were more disappointed in ourselves because of what happened last season. We didn’t need any ammunition. We are delighted to be back.” 

PROFESSIONAL

Glen Rovers had a gale of a wind in the first half on Sunday and led by 10 points at the break. Blarney did rally for a short spell, but the trophy was always likely to make the short trip over to Blackpool.

“We were very professional today, I thought,” the Cork hurler says.

“You didn’t know what way the wind was going to affect the game, but we were just determined to go out and fight the whole way through and make it hard for Blarney and we did that. I actually felt like in the first half that we were missing scores and I was thinking will we pay for this. You can’t ask any more for the lead that we had at half-time.

“We got the scores when we needed them in the second half. Blarney came back at us like we knew they would. We kicked on again and saw it home. It has been a hard year for the club. 

The Glen are really proud of being a big hurling club and we just needed to be in the Premier Senior grade especially with our underage going so well.” 

It’s a positive ending to 2024 for Hoggie after the huge disappointment of losing the All-Ireland final to Clare back in July.

“I separate both Cork and the Glen. Earlier on in the year, I play for Cork and then I come back and play with the Glen, which brings its own pressure. Togging out with the Glen is the most important thing for me. It’s a bit different, but this win is important for me. We are looking forward to next year already.”