Individual battles crucial as Royals prepare to make impact

Despite the revolution that has taken place in recent times in the way inter-county teams prepare for their league and championship campaigns Meath coach Graham Dillon says hurling remains a simple game.

As the Royals prepare to take on Offaly in the opening round of the National Hurling League Div 2A at Birr on Sunday, 2pm  Dillon insists that hurling is essentially about each player winning the battle with his direct opponent.

"Hurling comes down to each lad believing that he is better than the player beside him and if you don't go out with that attitude you shouldn't be going onto the pitch," he said. 

"That's the starting point and we'll be aiming to ensure our players have the skills they need to compete with an Offaly player. They'll go out believing  that, one-on-one, they can come out on top and if we win the battles all over the field we should win the game."

"Especially at this time of the year mistakes are going to be made but the only ball that matters is the next one, then when that's gone we go fight hard for the next one after that.

"That's the way it always was and always will be. You can see how various tactics are employed, 13 men behind the ball whatever, but at the end of the day it's 15 players on 15 players. They go out to war every week and it's about equipping them with the tools they need to deal with what they have to face." 

A former player with St Paul's in Clonmellon, Dillon ( who works as a Garda)  has a background in strength and conditioning and is currently involved with Trinity Gaels in Dublin. He also had spells coaching the Kilkenny camogie team. He has also coached teams at Blackhall Gaels and Dunboyne. When Weir asked him to join the Meath set-up he was glad to answer the call.

Dillon adds that all the Meath management - or any management team - can do is ensure they have their own troops ready for the fray. In their aim to do just that  the managment have a team of people including physios, a sports psychologist, analysists to help the players face into the challenges ahead. 

They all have their roles in getting the players ready for the rigours of an inter-county hurling game. "We can't predict how other teams are going to come out our set up but we can ensure we'll have our preparations in order and our team right and have every player believing they are good enough to compete," he insists. 

Dillon, who also represented his native Westmeath in football and hurling, has being brought in as a coach by Meath manager and Raharneyman  Nick Weir and they can hardly have asked for a tougher assignment to kick-off their Div 2A campaign than the trip to Birr. 

Dillon makes up the Meath management team along with Weir and selector Dave O'Reilly as they seek to make an impact this year. "Nick, Dave and myself all come from a coaching  background so on any given night in training we would all get involved in some aspect or other of the training.

"We have a large backroom team who all contribute too, and we take on board everyone's opinion whether it is someone on the physio's table or someone analysing data in the background, we take all that information in and we've a lot of data coming in throught the GPS systems and what have you. 

"Sometimes there can be too much data coming in and it's about trying  to figure it out but at the end of the day it comes down to the hurler, there are all the things there to just assist the player. At the end of the day you need a player who is able to get the ball in his hand and do what needs to be done."

Dillon praised the players for the way they have responded to the demands placed on them including a tough training regime as the quest goes on to get ready for what is sure to prove a demanding spring and summer.  Meath conceded eight goals in a heavy defeat to Offaly in the Kehoe Cup a few weeks ago in Birr but Dillon is confident the Royals will be much better prepared this time. 

He feels each player will be ready to take on his direct opponent and win that individual battle first. That's the platform for ulitmate success.