Sean Geraghty looking forward to Sunday's opener
Meath captain Sean Geraghty is looking forward to Sunday's Christy Ring Cup opener against London at Pairc Tailteann.
Geraghty has endured a frustrating period on the sideline due to injury as Meath's NHL Div 2A campaign unfolded, but spoke to the fans, young and old, at the meet and greet evening in Dunganny.
He returned to competitive action in the first and second round games of the IFC with Ballinlough during April and also had a chance to play in a challenge game for the hurlers.
"I got to play the full game in the second round of the IFC for Ballinlough against Oldcastle and I played a challenge match with the Meath hurling team after that, so on that front it's looking good from a fitness perspective," he suggested.
"The football against Oldcastle had a little bit of extra intensity and that was certainly a good test as far as I was concerned.
“The training now with Meath will be a big help to get me back to where I need to be to go out and play in the Christy Ring Cup against London next weekend.
ALL THE CAPTAINS AT CROKE PARK YESTERDAY
"I suppose I had a different perspective on the NHL Div 2A campaign, watching from the sideline, but the big challenge for the team is to achieve some form of consistency in our performances over the 70 minutes of a game.
“Certainly, our performance against Kerry in the last NHL game just wasn't good enough and we will have to make sure that we don't repeat that.
"We did well against Antrim and Westmeath and that's the type of form we need to produce more consistently, what we need to sort out is our inability to put the opposition away when we are on top in a game," he added.
Geraghty already has a Christy Ring Cup medal from 2016 and that remarkable final against Antrim and the prospects of getting Meath back up to the Joe McDonagh Cup for 2020 is a challenge he relishes.
"We have to hit all our targets starting with London, they had a training weekend here (in Ireland) in April and we needn't be thinking that we will get anything easy from them.
"The thing about London is that they have plenty of lads who can hurl, from places like Kilkenny and Tipperary and we have to be ready for that.
"Kildare will be a tough test as well and they are the Christy Ring Cup holders, they're probably disappointed that they didn't get promotion.
“As for Roscommon, they played their league final in Navan and I saw that game, we have to go to Athleague for that and it will be a challenge also.
"The main thing is that we have to start with a win, that's crucial and our sole focus," he concluded and he also urged Royal County supporters to make an extra effort to get to Pairc Tailteann for the curtainraiser as well as the football on Sunday.
SUNDAY AT PAIRC TAILTEANN
1PM - Meath v London, Christy Ring Cup.
3PM - Meath v Offaly, Leinster SFC first round.
THE MEET & GREET AT DUNGANNY FOR MEATH HURLERS