Passage G.A.A. Club Hall of Fame - John Horgan
When one of cork's greatest defenders, John Horgan, is written or spoken of,the Blackrock club is invariably mentioned.
It should not be forgotten however that "Hoggies'" undoubted skills were honed and nurtured by the Passage club and particularly by
Sean Geary who was his main mentor for the first five years of his illustrious playing carrier.
John was a major player in what was arguably the best ever under age hurling team in Passage, the under -16 team of 1966 Such were his performances at centre back for this team that the Cork minor selectors drafted him straight into the number 6 position for the Munster final in which Cork beat Galway. Bernie Meade of course also being a member of that team.
John played in three All-Ireland minor finals winning one in 1967 as a Passage player. Unfortunately for the Passage
club this was an era in Cork hurling whenstar players with smaller clubs were "persuaded" tojoin the "elite" clubs in Cork city in order to establish an inter-county carrier.
John fell into this category and ended up winning many honours with Blackrock including captaining them to three
All-Ireland club titles.
Thankfully this practice in Cork has now ceased and players from small clubs are now winning all-Ireland medals
and all-star awards and has shifted the balance of power in the club scene to village clubs like Erin's Owen, Newtownshandrum,and Cloyne.
Passage can legitamitely lay claim to much of John Horgan's past success and when he won the hurler of the year
award in1978 he became the second player who came through the under age structures of the Passage clubto do so. Justin McCarthy preceeding him in 1966.
It is interesting to note that four players of the afore mentioned under-16 hurling team played on the Cork minor
hurling team of 1968 namely John Horgan,Timothy o'Shea,George O'Sullivan and Jimmy Horan
It is also worth noting that in 1967 while still not seventeen John Horgan played at centre-back for the Passage
senior hurling team in the championship, ironically against Blackrock. Passage losing in a replay.