Sweet 16 for Mark Bergin as O'Loughlin Gaels target Leinster glory

He may be in his 16th season of championship hurling with O'Loughlin Gaels, but for Mark Bergin, winter hurling has never been so appealing.

Last month’s county title took his tally to three – Gaels have five in total, all coming since the turn of the century – and now the focus on keeping the journey going.

Provincial debutants Na Fianna stand in their way of Leinster glory on Saturday, but the 34-year-old says the surprise victory over Ballyhale in the county final was a huge boost under the management of three-time All-Star Brian Hogan.

Shamrocks were bidding to reach a fifth All-Ireland final in a row, with three victories and a defeat in that period, but Paddy Deegan’s late free ensured a famous one-point win for the Gaels.

"It’s the only way to beat them really (Ballyhale), is at the final whistle," Bergin told RTÉ Sport.

"Last year we had a very bad year. We were beaten in the first round by Mullinavat after getting to the County final the previous year.

"But Brian came in and he surrounded himself with great club men. His man management skills are top class.

"And real players’ people. Got the spirit going and since the Ballyhale match there's been a bit of a buzz, we are going training and it’s November. Leinster club final first weekend of December.

"It can’t get any better than that."

Hogan’s trust in the players appears to be at odds with a strict player’s charter from a senior hurling club that has been shared on social media.

"It’s not healthy, it’s not healthy at all. You have to treat players like adults as well and there has to be that respect there, and while hurling is so, so important, as is football and everything else, there is a life outside of it too," Bergin said.

A primary school principal in Danesfort,