Nick Fitzgerald looking forward to challenges with Meath

Meath hurlers will begin their 2018 campaign on the eve of New Year's Eve 2017 when Antrim visit the Royal County for a first round Walsh Cup tie at Páirc Tailteann.

This will be the first outing for All-Ireland MHC B-winning manager Nick Fitzgerald in his new role as Meath boss with his selectors Paul Reilly and Kilkenny duo Michael Kavanagh and Martin Comerford.

The management team had their first official training session at Dunganny last week and a Meath 15 also played a challenge against Waterford IT with another outing planned for this week against UCD.

There will be huge competition for places in the panel for the forthcoming NHL Div 2A and the Walsh Cup will prove to be a useful exercise with Dublin also in the three-team group. 

Meath will play Dublin in the pre-season warm up tournament on either Wednesday 3rd or Sunday 7th January.

The date of that game is likely to be determined by the result of Meath's first game against Antrim.

The game against Antrim will be the first competitive outing for new manager and his selectorsd.

Fitzgerald guided Meath to an All-Ireland MHC B title earlier this year and he has stepped into the role as a replacement for Martin Ennis who enjoyed a successful three-year stint at the helm during which the Chritsy Ring Cup and a NHL Div 2B title were won.

Fitzgerald spoke to the Meath Chronicle after training at Dunganny last week and firstly outlined the details about the make-up of his backroom team.

BACKROOM TEAM

“I've know Martin (Comerford) for a number of years and a few years ago my home club in Waterford (St Molleran's) needed a bit of help,” he commented.

“Although I was 130 miles away in Meath I gave them a dig out, it's what you do in the GAA.

“Another guy in the club knew Martin and that was how we met, through helping out St Molleran's.

“We both moved on after that, but we kept in touch.

“Over the years we would regularly discuss hurling in Meath and Kilkenny.

“Michael (Kavanagah) is a friend of Martin's and that's how it started off.

“I would have been helping clubs in Meath establish coaching links with Kilkenny clubs, that type of thing.

“The challenge now is for Meath to compete with the likes of Kerry and Carlow.

“I have to try to get five results next year in the championship similar to the one result that was achieved against Kerry this year, the same would apply for the league, it's a tough call, but I think the Meath players are ready to step up at this stage.

“We will have to hit the ground running with 2A games away against Kildare and London for our first two outings. 

“In the Tier 2, Laois and Kerry will probably feel that they will qualify, but there will probably be a few unexpected results.

“All the other other teams will be looking at Meath and thinking that they can beat us, but apart from Laois, everyone else is capable of beating each other in the championship, so it will be tight for the two qualification places,” he added.

YOUNG PLAYERS

These are, potentially, exciting times for Meath hurling with a good flow of talented young players coming through the under-age ranks and Fitzgerald is well aware of the quality.

“Looking at the younger players in Meath at the moment, there are a lot of players now at minor level, and just finishing that grade also, that have played high quality hurling since they were 12 or 13 and it's now starting to pay a dividend,” he said.

“Consistent coaching is important, in the MHC final a few weeks ago it was good quality hurling from Na Fianna and the Killyon / Longwood conmbinmation 

“I have been involved now for about five years and have seen the steady level of progress that culminated with a Minor B All-Ireland title this year, the players

coming into the minor grade for next year will be just as good 

“However, I think the under-21 grade in general is a problem for us as a county and it's an anomaly that needs to be addressed.

“The main problem is due to the timing of fixtures because there is so much going on when the competitions start.

“Players are pulled in all directions between club football and club hurling and there could be a lot of other competitions as well for some players at the u-21 grade. 

“There is no leeway for that age group (u-21) in relation to fixtures, in our county anyway,” he added.

PROSPECTS FOR 2018

And what about the prospects for 2018?

Can Meath hurling make the step up to the next level in both league and championship?

“I think if we are really honest about our prospects for 2018 then survival in both NHL Div 2A and Tier 2 is the minimum requirement,” he suggested.

“I would like to see the team pushing for the NHL Div 2A title and for qualification as one of the top two teams in the Tier 2 HC.

“This is a completely new level for all the Meath players in terms of the new championship anyway, but there is the experience of this year where Meath were competitive in what has now become the Tier 2 Championship.

“The downside of this year (2017) was the fact that there was only three championship games and the results show that three teams finished on two points - Meath, Kerry and Westmeath.

“Our preparations for 2018 will be much better as we are now in Div 2A and will have the benefit of five quality games before we start the Tier 2 where there will be another five games.

“The draws for the league and championship have been favourable for Meath in the sense that the only real travelling we have to do is a trip to London for the League and all the teams have to go to London this time around.

“We are working with a large panel at the moment and we are going to work with the football as best we can, plus the Kiltale players have to come into the picture as well.

“The new structure for inter-county games restricts the guy who is a talented footballer and hurler and it will be a difficult decision for anyone in that position.

“In our situation it currently applies to James (Toher) and to be fair to everyone he will probably have to make a decision after Christmas because there are four dates in the NFL and NHL where fixtures clash.

“When I look at the panel of players that are available, we are in a good position because there is huge competition for places and the panel will have to be reduced in compliance with the regulations.

“We have a number of challenge games coming up in the next few weeks also.

“Playing Meath in a challenge game is a more attractive proposition for the stronger counties now than it was five or six years ago when I was involved and Cillian (Farrell) was the manager.

“In my first year with Cillian at the start of the campaign we would have been struggling for numbers at training, that's not an issue anymore so we can look forward with some confidence,” he concluded.