Brian Hogan (2016) and Keith Hogan (2015) are recent Kilkenny county winning captains

FOR THE SECOND successive year on Sunday, it was a member of the Hogan family who was lifting the cup after the Kilkenny senior hurling final.

The novelty lay in the fact that they both play for different clubs.

On Sunday, Brian Hogan was savouring leading O’Loughlin Gaels to glory a year after his brother Keith had done the same for Clara.

Two brothers have lifted the Kilkenny SHC cup with different clubs in the last two years as captains. Must be unique in the #gaa ? @hogie81 — eoin quigley (@EoinQuigley) October 31, 2016 Source: eoin quigley /Twitter

Sunday’s victory sparked celebrations for the multiple Kilkenny All-Ireland winner, in stark contrast to the dejection at losing the decider a year previously.

“Last year was a bit of an awkward situation,” admitted Hogan, when speaking to TG4′s GAA BEO after the game.

“I’m just after coming from having a few words with my brother. He’s delighted for me. Look I was delighted for him last year.

“Obviously there was huge disappointment at losing on a personal level. It was a complicated situation. Thankfully we don’t have that situation this year. It’s a fantastic moment.”

Keith and Brian Hogan in opposition in the 2015 Kilkenny county final Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

Brian and Keith Hogan embrace after the 2015 Kilkenny county final

The background to how the brothers ended up playing for different clubs stems from when Brian was born, the Hogan family lived in Kilkenny city and he played for the local O’Loughlin Gaels club.

The family then moved to Clara, just outside Kilkenny city, before Keith was born.

Brian continued to play for O’Loughlin Gaels as he stayed going to St John’s NS in Kilkenny city. Keith attended primary school in Clara and that then became his club.

A 2016 county final face-off was prevented when Clara lost out at the semi-final stage this year to Ballyhale Shamrocks, who then lost out 0-19 to 1-12 against O’Loughlin Gaels on Sunday.

Brian Hogan with his son Jack after Sunday's game Source: James Crombie/INPHO

The success marked O’Loughlin Gaels fourth Kilkenny senior hurling crown with Brian Hogan a constant feature in all of those wins – 2001, 2003, 2010 and 2016.

The target now will be to emulate their achievement in 2003 and 2010 by progressing to win in Leinster. A semi-final against Offaly’s St Rynagh’s or Wexford’s Oulart-the-Ballagh awaits on 20 November.

“The first in the club’s history (was) in 2001, I was on the team and it’s a memory that stuck with me forever.

“The guys up there, it sounds a bit cheesy, but they’re my brothers in terms of growing up hurling with them and training with them every second night.

Henry Shefflin congratulates Brian Hogan after Sunday's game Source: James Crombie/INPHO

“It’s just fantastic to go back up to the club now and meet the people you’ve grown up hurling with, coached you and everything.

“To be at the top of Kilkenny hurling, it’s so difficult. To have got there is just a great feeling.”

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