Patrick Horgan enjoying watching through a different lens
Speaking today ahead of this year's highly anticipated Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final between Cork and Limerick is Centra’ leading Sharpshooter ambassador Patrick Horgan, who is encouraging young hurlers across the country to test their skills and take part in the 2026 Centra Sharpshooter competition.
Centra and Patrick Horgan are calling on all children aged 8–12 to show their accuracy and skill by collecting a Sharpshooter target sticker in participating Centra stores, placing it on their local club’s ball wall, and uploading their content to social media tagging @CentraIRL and their local GAA club. Winners will receive a €1,000 prize for their local GAA club plus the opportunity for their team to play at the 2026 Hurling for Cancer Research Charity Match taking place this August.
By Cian O'Connell
"It's different," Patrick Horgan explains about analysing matches as a pundit.
"When I was playing with Cork, you know what you'd be trying to work on yourself as a team. Outside that, I wouldn't be looking at other teams too much, other than our own analysis within the team.
"Now, with the punditry you're looking at it so different. Every game is different and different teams are trying to do different things, trying to figure that out is exciting."
So, Horgan is studying games intently and is thoroughly enjoying that process. "You can't just watch it like that was a great score or I hope we win the next one, you've to look at the patterns of play or how a team is gaining momentum," Horgan replies.
"How they're winning games, there is a lot more to it. You've things going on, teams that do win, trying to find that, it's an interesting way of looking at hurling. I'm enjoying it."
Even though Horgan isn't hurling at senior inter-county level anymore, there is still plenty to do. "I'm probably busier than ever before," he says.
"I'm trying to keep up my own training too on top of that, watching all of the games. I wouldn't have watched games before.
Former Cork hurling Patrick Horgan. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"I wouldn't have watched hurling, but now I'm looking forward to watching it. On Saturday I'm looking forward to the Leinster final, and on Sunday, obviously, I'll be glued to Cork and Limerick."
Has Horgan missed not being involved? "Not much, to be honest," the Glen Rovers man responds. "The weather hasn't helped with that either, the weather has been desperate.
"When I'm out, I'm out. I'm training with the Glen now, that's all I'm focused on hurling wise when I'm up there training. Outside of that, I've everything else with the punditry so I'm fierce busy, and don't even have time to think about. It's not something I missed."
Being ready for the Cork Championship with the Glen matters deeply. "It's always something I loved doing," Horgan says.
"Even when I did play with Cork, and even the lads that are now playing with Cork from the Glen, they'd be very close to the club even when they're in the heat of Championship with Cork. If they weren't training with Cork on a specific night, they'd be down watching us.
"If we'd a game they'd travel, if they weren't with Cork. That's not something I don't think everybody would be like. Even last week, they did train, and we'd a game roughly the same time.
"By the time half-time came in our game the boys were after making it to our game. In fairness to them, we'd be close enough in the club that it's important up there. It's been driven on by a lot of fellas, we've good numbers. So, it's all good."
