Meath’s unflattering position of having neither of the two most important team management positions filled as we hurtle towards October has eased by half with the appointment of Westmeath native Johnny Greville as senior hurling manager on a three year term.
Greville’s appointment is subject to ratification at the next Co Board meeting and – at the time of typing – leaves the senior football management position the only one unfilled. In my humble opinion, the acquisition of the Raharney clubman’s services represents something of a coup for the Royal County, with him having led his home club to a trio of Westmeath SHC titles and also guided the Lake County camogie team for a spell.
However, the experienced coach won’t lack for knowledge of the Meath hurling scene either, having spent a period as Kildalkey manager in the past. Moreover, whether of his own doing or that of his appointers, the choice of Sean Corrigan (Kildalkey) and Tom Shine (Kilskyre/Moylagh) to work alongside the new boss was both prudent and foresighted.
Not only because the coach and the former-named of the incoming duo will already be well acquainted via the Kildalkey connection but also because (a) ‘Crash’ (Corrigan) will double up as U-20 boss and held the post last year and (b) Tom Shine will also know the underage scene well with his own twin sons Daire and Tom having recently come through the ranks and earmarked themselves as pivotal players for Meath going forward at senior level.
Furthermore, unlike with Colm O’Rourke’s shunned proposals regarding a succession plan relating to the senior footballers, there seems to be no problems with such ideas for the hurlers as ‘Crash’ and ‘Bubbles’ would seem ideally placed to work as a dynamic duo in management of the county senior team at some point in the future.
Whatever about further down the line, though, the new regime will have as good a pool of players with which to work as any think tank will have had for the better part of two decades. Feelings only further endorsed by what I feel is a noticeable improvement in the standard on show at club level in recent times.
It’s only natural that there will be a wave optimism, positivity and curiosity when a new setup takes over, and the only disappointing thing for the new management and players is that it will be a while before they collectively see action as a team. On the other hand, whoever ends up getting the senior football job will need every second of preparation time they can get to get their house in order.
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