Michael Kavanagh at a Meath training session last week. Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie

Kilkenny duo on board with Meath hurlers

Former All-Ireland SHC-winning Kilkenny hurlers Michael Kavanagh and Martin Comerford have joined the Meath management team and last week the duo arrived in Dunganny for the first official training session with the players.

It was all a bit different from the last time they encountered a Meath team.
That was back in March 2002 in a NHL Div 1A encounter at Nowlan Park where Kavanagh started at corner back and Comerford in the full-forward berth in a third round tie.

Kilkenny won the game convincingly by 2-22 to 0-8 with Nicky Horan scoring seven of Meath's tally. 

Jimmy McGuinness also split the posts for a Meath team that was managed by Michael Duignan.

A significant development at that game saw the appointment of the first female fourth official for a NHL game when Patricia Kennedy was on duty as a sideline official.

The new Meath management team had an opportunity to view the match programme from that game during an interview with Meath Chronicle sports editor Conall Collier at Dunganny last week.

Kavanagh was enthusiastic about his new role although he has had stints with Wicklow and Tyrone hurlers previously.

“The link came about through Martin’s (Comerford) involvement with Nick (Fitzgerald) a few years ago and I was asked to join the team. It was a chance for me to get some more inter-county experience,” he stated.

“I was aware of the work that was going on in the background in Meath at under-age level and how things generally were improving, so I was delighted with the opportunity.

“Myself and Martin hurled with our clubs this year, but I have been involved with Wicklow and with Tyrone at inter-county level previously and you always have to be planning and looking ahead as well.

“There are lots of good things happening in Meath hurling at the moment, it will be an interesting challenge and it won't be too long before the action starts with the Walsh Cup against Antrim next month and then Dublin and the League in January.

“This new Tier 2 Hurling Championship is an interesting concept also, it will be very competitive.

“After winning the NHL Div 2B this year and the Christy Ring Cup last year, it's probably the next best target for Meath to gauge where they actually are in terms of progress at the moment.

“Tier 2 will be a novel competition in 2018 and Meath officials and players are probably happy to be in the mix.

“It will represent a step up for Meath, they did well over the past few years and if I can help in some way to continue that then it will be worthwhile for everyone.

“All the county competitions are ultra-competitive and, regardless of the level, they are hard to win, success doesn't come easy and moving up the grades is a big challenge.

“One thing that is missing at the level where Meath, Wicklow and Tyrone competed at in the past is the exposure that the top teams get, there is a lack of recognition for the achievements of county teams outside of the elite group.

“In some counties the hurlers will also be in the shadows of the footballers, that's a real issue as well.

“There is the nucleus of a very good panel in Meath and even at club level the Kiltale hurlers have been going well in Leinster.

“I won an intermediate medal in Kilkenny in 2009 and went on to win an All-Ireland with the club, generally, the Kilkenny teams do well in the club championships and Kiltale have pushed some very good teams.

“Last week was our first session in the field, the Kiltale players have still to come into the panel but there are a number of challenge games organised as well and that will help in the overall shape of the panel,” he concluded.