Continuous improvement the key to success

There was one major reason why Meath manager Eamonn Murray was delighted with how Sunday's game panned out at Wexford Park - and it wasn't because of his team's big victory.

He was pleased that his team won, of course he was. The victory gets Meath's campaign back on track after their defeat to Kerry the first day out - and hitting 7-17 is one hell of a way of getting back on the horse but no genuine sports person wants to humilate anybody and Murray is a genuine sportsman.

No, what pleased him most was that due to the fact the game was wrapped up well before half-time he could afford to experiment and give players who might otherwise not get a run some game-time. He used 14 substitutes.

"You have to add to your squad all the time and it was great to get all those young players out on the field," stated Murray.

"There was a St Michael's player (Aine Sheridan) and others who got a run out and that's really what it's about.

"I love watching that, giving players from clubs who normally don't have county players a chance to shine.

"We have another player from Clonard (Louise Coyne) with us.

"I love days like this, not because of the score, that has nothing got to do with it. It's about getting those young girls who came on here today an opportunity to show their worth.

"Sure, some of them were a bit nervous but they got on and please God next week in Navan (against Clare) four or five can get on again.

"It's a great buzz for them to get a run out. Rewarding the players that's what it is all about. You can make unlimited substitutions and that's what we did," he added.

After the final whistle one member of the Wexford contingent said to this correspondent how disappointed he was that the team were so heavily beaten.

However, if Wexford football really do want to find a path to a higher level they could do a lot worse than talk to Murray.

He recalled the time when Meath were at the wrong end of such hammerings; when they were beaten out the door by far better teams.

Murray and his colleagues in the backroom team didn't give up, they kept battling and looking to get better. Believing they could get better - and they did.

"We know all about defeats like Wexford took, for sure. We were beaten by more than Wexford lost in this game - and it's not that long ago," stated Murray.

"When we started out the only team that would play us in a challenge was Fermanagh.

"Nobody would think of playing us, we were nothing, now you have Dublin and Mayo looking for us.

"We have come a long way, sure, but it didn't happen overnight, there was a lot of sweat and tears.

"We are four or five years at it now and nothing was easy for us. We've got a good backroom team together, great coaches, Michelle (Grimes) is always there at the training.

"We all work very well as a team and that's what you have to keep doing. There is a great bond between them all and I leave them at it.

"We talk, we talk and talk and if we see something wrong we talk even more. We could make 10 phone calls a day."

The manner in which Meath moved the ball around against Wexford was indeed impressive yet there is always room for improvement and Murray spoke about how this week the players will be looking to fine-tune aspects of their play such as moving the ball even faster from midfield to the forwards than they did against the Model County.

The success of the Meath team under Murray also highlights the importance of a good environment where players are happy and unfettered.

"The girls are a very happy bunch, a very close bunch, very easy to motivate. They know what they have to do.

"They'll train Tuesday and Friday evenings with a smile on their faces and we'll look forward to playing Clare.

"Please God we can win that and get to a semi-final, anything could happen then. The league finals are in Croke Park and anything could happen there," he concluded.