Troy enthusiastic ahead of Sunday's SHC showdown

There's an air of enthusiasm when you chat with Kiltale manager David Troy as FERGAL LYNCH discovered ahead of Sunday's SHC decider against Trim.

It's a freshness of a young man with a wealth of hurling knowledge and hunger and passion to get the best out of those around him.

A talented hurler with Drumree in the not too distant past, Troy is steeped in the game and captained Meath to the 2004 All-Ireland JHC title.

He has lent his considerable hurling know-how to several teams around the county, but when the big dogs came calling he had no hesitation in accepting the offer, even though Kiltale were hot favourites to claim a fifth successive Jubilee Cup and anything less than victory could be construed as being 'Troy's fault' - was that a concern for the newly appointed manager when he took on the role?

"There was a fear factor when it came to accepting the Kiltale role,” Troy told the Meath Chronicle. 

“There were times when I wondered was I here for a fall. Some doubts did set in about whether I was good enough or not, but after I thought about it I would have been mad not to take the job. 

"With the record Kiltale have and the quality of players they have it was an easy decision, so when I got the green light from home I jumped at it.

"Human nature being what it is I would be lying if I didn't admit that the fear of losing did cross my mind and getting the blame for Kiltale losing was a big thing.

"A few close allies of mine did point that out to me, but if you are going to take the top job in Meath club hurling then you have to take those risks. You have to challenge yourself too. There is no point in looking back in 10 years and regretting not taking the job."

So what were those challenges?

"First of all you are challenging yourself to see if you can do the job to the standard expected," he said.

"Secondly the big test is to try to motivate players who have won so much and who have been top dogs for a good few years. You also want to see how they will treat you.

"There is a confidence thing or a vain thing there too. I wasn't the best player in the world, so I was wondering how the players would take to me and also being the first man from outside the club since Martin Ennis to take on the job, that was massive.

"The main thing for me was to get the thrust of the players, that was key, but that wasn't difficult.

"There is an honesty about the Kiltale lads that is hard to work out considering they have won so much, but you quickly understand how and why they are in the position they are in.

"They are very much self-governed and and are very straight down the line and honest. That really helped.

"My aim was to freshen things up and provide a new voice and a few different ideas. You are not going to teach those lads how to play hurling.

"There was no point going into the job doing a Brian Clough at Leeds United on it and throw everything away telling them that they have won nothing, you can't do that.

"I've just tried to maintain continuity. That's why I have lads like Podge Donoghue, Pat Diskin and Declan Regan with me just to keep that continuity going, you didn't want a whole wipe out from last year.

"I didn't know the personalities when I came in, so having those lads around has been vital."

However it wasn't all plain sailing for Kiltale and Troy looks back on the loss to Kilmessan in Dunshaughlin as being the turning point.
"After the defeat by Kilmessan we had serious words with ourselves in the dressing room and we demanded that the buck stopped there.

“We knuckled down to hard work and we changed a few things that people were uncertain with and within the following two or three weeks there was a massive change," recalled the manager.

"Kilmessan really stirred our passion again. 

“Defeat comes to every team and you don't mind defeat, you can accept that, but it was the manner of the defeat that I was very puzzled about, we weren't up for the physicality that Kilmessan brought that day.

"The club had been through a very tough year with the passing of Ronan (Kelly), that did have a huge impact. I was delighted with the way we turned it around then."

So have things turned around sufficiently for Kiltale to complete their drive-for-five?

Troy believes Trim are on a similar journey this year to his own side, and he is looking forward to another Titanic tussle.

"It was like that for Trim all year too, they were missing players and were very much on the same road as us," said Troy.

"This is not the first time Trim have got on a roll like this and came from left field. When you look at the two teams on paper, there is nothing between them. 

“Trim have some seriously talented hurlers on their team, there are quality hurlers on both sides.

"Neily (Cole) has them absolutely physically flying and their attitude was superb against Kildalkey. 

“Their forwards set the tempo with their tackling from the front, from corner-forward to corner-back it was the best performance I've seen all year.

"Trim will bring the same intensity, passion and drive that they showed against Kildalkey, that comes from their management team with Declan (Murray) and Neily there. 

"We have to match that passion and intensity, we can come up with all sorts of plans and ideas, but we have to match their hunger and work rate.

"We also need a bit of smarts. Everyone talks about our experience, but it is only four years since Trim were in a senior final, they have a few very experienced players like James Toher, Alan Douglas, Ciaran Joyce, Damo Magee, Neil Heffernan and others, experience will only get you so far in setting the tempo and helping get the heads right before the game.

"When your are on the field, experience will count for nothing if you don't have that drive and the will to win.

"I think it is going to be a cracking game. There is a real contrast in styles, as a supporter and a hurling man alone, I'm really looking forward to the game, hopefully I’ll still be enjoying it at the final whistle" concluded the Kiltale boss.