Andrews eager for resumption of battle

IT'S a new year, there's a little stretch in the evenings and the talk is of hurling once more. John Andrews is eager to get the hurling year back rolling again. His charges face their first competitive test of 2008 when they take on Athlone IT in the Kehoe Cup at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, 1.0.

Andrews and his selectors Colm Lynch and Paul Donnelly, have called 40 players into the panel and this will be cut down to 30 for the start of the league. He says that 43 phone calls were made to players and there were 40 positive responses.

Among those who is likely to feature prominently this year is Kiltale captain John Donoghue who was a regular in the Meath football panel two years ago.

Donoghue gave a man of the match display in the SHC final in 2007 when Kiltale recorded a shock win over Kilmessan. Also included in the expanded Meath panel is John's brother Padraig and a contingent from the Royal County side that won the All-Ireland B MHC title last year including David Raleigh, Michael Dunne and Barry Slevin.

The Meath manager admits that the Kehoe Cup is "not a big priority". He would like an extended run to try out some new talent in preparation for what he hopes will be a big push for the league. The hope is to reach the quarter-final of the league at least. Beyond that the big focus is on winning the Christy Ring Cup.

"I felt that last winter and spring we didn't perform that well during the league, that's well documented, so we want to improve on that," he said. " We also want to try and improve on our overall intensity all around the field."

The aim over the coming weeks will be to give the players as many games as possible in either challenges or the Kehoe Cup.

"We didn't play a lot of games during our training sessions last year, this time we are going to try and incorporate a game in every session this year, for 20 minutes or half an hour.

"We did that last year until maybe March, then Paddy Ryan got a very bad injury and I got scared then that we would pick up injuries. I've spoken to a few coaches around the country and a lot of their training is geared to a half-hour of intense hurling at the end of every training session. If its good for the top boys, it's good enough for me."

Andrews is likely to field a combination of the tried and trusted along with the young tyros looking to make a name for themselves. If Meath defeat Athlone IT they face either Trinity or Louth, the following week, again at Pairc Tailteann.

Eoin Brislane is recovering from a knee injury and will be out until the spring while Tony Fox is on the way back and could also be ready for the NHL which starts with a game against Derry next month.

Athlone IT played Meath in the Kehoe Cup two years ago also in Pairc Tailteann and were rumbled by the home side on a 0-22 to 0-13 scoreline. Whether it is going to be a diet of challenge or Kehoe Cup games over the coming weeks Andrews is just glad to be back.

 "When the year turns you get the appetite back so I'm mad to get going again," he added.  With the year turned and stretch in the evenings Andrews' can hardly wait for the new season to start. What will 2008 hold for the Meath hurlers?