Tipperary man hoping to bring Meath to the next level

That unmistakable sound of studs on tarmac echoed around Dunganny last week and the Meath hurlers returned to training for the first time since their 2020 Joe McDonagh Cup campaign ended with another defeat last November.

Almost five months in isolation left the Meath players and management with a lot to think about and with a spring in their step and a number of new coaches brought in to help freshen things up by manager Nick Weir that echo of studs on the road between the changing rooms and the pitches was quickly replaced by the thud of hurls on sliotars.

Taking time out from directing operations under Weir's watchful eye was one of his new coaches Johnny Enright and his enthusiasm was infectious as he buzzed around Dunganny ensuring everything was set up and ready to go before taking a moment to explain to the Meath Chronicle what enticed a Tipperary man to throw in his lot with Meath.

"I got a call out of the blue in January from Nick (Weir) and Seanie (Geraghty) asking me if I'd be interested in getting involved with Meath and to be perfectly honest I jumped at the chance," said Enright from behind his blue mask as every precaution to prevent the threat of Covid-19 was maintained.

"I've been living in Kildare for the last eight years and have been involved with my local club there, Eire Og-Corrachoill, prior to that I had coached at Fitzgibbon Cup level and with my own club in Thurles, but the opportunity to train an inter-county team in the Joe McDonagh Cup was too big to turn down, so I jumped at it and I was delighted to be asked.

"I played with Kildare for a year when I moved up from Tipperary and I would have played against Meath once or twice, so I'm well aware of what they are capable of.

"I know it has been a bit up and down for Meath over the last few years, up from the Christy Ring and then down from the Joe McDonagh, but I could see from the first session on the field last Tuesday that the potential is there to continue to progress.

"There is huge enthusiasm there within the group and it was great to be back training. We had 39 players ready to go here last Tuesday night, they were here an hour before training was due to start, I could see straight away that they were hungry to get going.

"I rang all the players individually before we returned to the training field and I could hear their enthusiasm straight away, there is a real drive in the group and I could sense that straight away," said Enright.

Clearly excited by the early season vibes Enright brings a wealth of coaching experience with him having been involved as coach to the Nicky English managed UCD in the Fitzgibbon Cup and also as a huge successful coach of the renowned Thurles Sarsfields in Tipperary.

As a player Enright was no mug either, making the Thurles senior team alongside his older brother Eddie as a 16-year-old in 1993 and towards the end of his career he won a Munster Club SHC title with Thurles in 2012 to add to the Fitzgibbon Cup crowns he won with UCC in 1996, '97 and '98.

That county and provincial victory with Thurles in 2012 were proud moments for Enright and that Tipperary SHC crown in 2012 was his fourth in total. He also captained the famous Sarsfields to county success in 2009.

As well as being an outstanding player for his club Enright won a Munster MHC with Tipperary in 1993 and played three years at under-21 level for the county before progressing to the senior panel in 1996 where he remained until 2002.

After almost 10 years out of the inter-county game Enright returned to play with Kildare where he won a NHL Div 2B medal in 2012, but now he is very much involved in coaching and is regarded as one of the most progressive and exciting young coaches in the game.

There is no denying Enright knows a winning mentality when he sees one and he believes there is a real club atmosphere about the Meath panel. He saw similar attributes during his successful spell with Thurles Sarsfields and he can't wait to get going.

"I'm basing my first impressions on what I saw through Zoom calls and online training sessions over the last few months," revealed Enright.

"That is a strange medium to be operating through when you haven't met the players, but from the first drill I did with the group on the field last Tuesday night the energy was there and that was everything.

"The energy I saw from the Meath lads in that first session was every bit as high and intense as I would have seen from my own club when I was coaching them a few years ago. That Thurles team was a very successful group and they were very driven, so it is the exact same from the Meath lads.

"I really sensed that determination and drive from talking to the Meath lads. They have a want to go another step this year, that is very apparent.

"I have been buzzing for a few months to get here and get to know the players and get onto the pitch and start training, so it is great to be here and finally doing something on the pitch."

All the hunger and enthusiasm can only bring a team so far and Enright is well aware that Meath need to find that little bit extra that could see them get rid of the tag of being a yo-yo team between the Ring and McDonagh Cups and become a serious contender for top honours in the Tier 2 competition.

"I watched all the videos of last year's games and they were unlucky on a number of occasions. All I'll be looking to do is to bring up the pace of the hurling a notch," said Enright.

"At this level it is all about small margins. I'm looking to see if I can bring two or three per cent improvement to the group and just tap into the skills and enthusiasm they have already.

"I also want to make sure they have a clear approach of how we want to play and how we want to go at it. I want to bring an eagerness and a strong team spirit to the panel.

"To be fair that team spirit is already there and I have seen that straight away. That unity in the group is going to be really important and that is crucial.

"Having unity is the key. If everyone is together then we will train hard and know what each of us is doing, that is really important.

"After the period of time we have just gone through in terms of isolation and lockdown everyone just wants to get out onto the pitches and play and hopefully that will go well for us," concluded Enright before his studs echoed off the tarmac, back to the grass where he feels at home whether it in Tipperary in Meath, so long as it's hurling grass.