Home work a key factor for Weir

As he reflected on how Meath did the business in the NHL Div 2A last Sunday and defeated Wicklow 2-24  to 3-18 at Pairc Tailteann Nick Weir also made reference to an aspect of the players' lives that could be the foundation stone for any team's success. 

The manager spoke about how his charges work hard in training yet outside of the structured training sessions and games there is an onus on them to do their own, extra work at home. Homework if you like. 

At inter-county level, he mused, a great deal is required from players. They have to go that extra mile to steal a march on their opponents - and his troops are no different.

Weir was concerned about some aspects of his team's performance against Wicklow but he spoke also about the positive aspects. He felt sure, he said, the players were "getting there" and that process would be "speeded up" further. 

"The players' fitness is not an issue and we'll improve the hurling side of things when the drier sod comes along, we'll speed it up, increase the tempo, no problem, and we hope the players will buy into that by working on their own.

"They can do that by going to the nearest hurling wall or practicing at the gable end of the house -and I think they will do that extra work because they want to improve all the time. They have to take some ownership as well."

All the work, on and off the training ground, completed so far by this Meath team was needed to overcome a stubborn Wicklow side who led for lengthy spells on Sunday. 

Weir reflected on how his team conceded turnovers "too easily" and suffered by playing "panic hurling" which they did, he added, "a few times" in the opening half. He was referring to how Meath looked to pass their way out of trouble at times but only found themselves deeper in the mire and lost their way. 

How does the manager grapple with an issue like that? How does he improve matters? "There is no problem in dealing with it because the boys are willing to learn and they are willing to change, it's just habits and old habits die hard and that's what we are trying to get out of the players, those habits of giving the ball away. Our aim is to speed up the hurling, increase the tempo, that's key, but keep the ball.

"We suffered in the opening half with turnovers and in fairness to Andy O'Brien he is a real handful. Mickey Burke did his best on him and we put Shane Brennan back on him in the second-half as well, but he's hard to contain.  Wicklow have quality players and we knew it was going to be difficult." 

So what was the most positive aspect of Meath's performance?  "I thought they were phenomenal in the last 15 minutes, the way they came back after having a man sent off, they showed what we had spoken about in the dressing-room, some pride and passion. Real pride and passion.

"I'm pleased with the fitness of the players and we can really improve the hurling aspects, sharpen the skills, as we move along. If we can do that we will be happy enough. Ball to hand, ball to hand, that's key. We are letting too many balls drop and the turnover ball is killing us, they are the two biggest things for us to get right."

A lot, it seems has been done by Weir and his troops - but there's clearly a lot more to do as the hurling season picks up pace with Kerry up next.