Bulfin busy managing big changes
Changes. They are inevitable in life and sport. Seoirse Bulfin knows that. It's about managing that change. Adapting.
He is currently doing just that with the Meath squad as he looks to hone and craft a panel for the coming season - and Sunday's game in Longwood was part of the process.
There has been a big turnover of players since last season ended on a sweet note for Meath with Bulfin guiding his team to Christy Ring Cup success over Derry last summer in Croke Park no less. But that was then, this is now. The final whistle had hardly ended in that game when the wheels of transition started turning.
"Yes there has been a big turnover of players probably more than you would like to see when you are going up a level but that just provides opportunities for other lads," the Limerickman said in Longwood after Sunday's defeat to Down.
"We have 40 or 41 lads who are working very hard to do their best for Meath hurling. I spoke to other county managers and there are a lot of teams in similar situations, turnover of players, guys travelling, taking a year out, working. Everyone is in the same boat."
Bulfin pointed out that of the team that started in Croke Park against Derry nine have departed the scene, in total "12 or 13" have departed. A hefty haul of players in any context. Change might be inevitable but some changes are more far-reaching, more significant than others.
"A couple of the guys have retired including Stephen Morris, Shane Brennan, Mark O'Sullivan and Adam Gannon, great servants to Meath hurling, guys who don't owe Meath hurling anything. They went out on their own terms at Croke Park and it's as good a place as any to go. Jack Regan is travelling, maybe back for the championship but may not either. That's fine too, there will be Meath hurling after all of us so for this year it's the next man up and lads will get opportunities. We'll see how they get on."
So it's about turning a negative into a positive when it comes to management. No profit gained from approaching it in any other way. Bulfin is clearly using the Kehoe Cup to trawl through the talent available to him. See what gems he picks up along the way. He pointed out that of "the 21 clubs in Meath hurling, 17 of them are represented on the panel" a sizeable representation indeed. "Of the 15 players that started today, 12 are from various clubs," he added to emphasise the point.
"We're trying to get as many people as possible who are willing to play hurling for Meath, who are interested and from my perspective you're looking to win matches but you're also trying to develop hurling and players, to try and get as many clubs as possible up to a particular level.
"So from that point of view it's exciting, there is a certain amount of headaches because when when you go up a level that turnover of players is a lot but as I said it now provides and opportunity for the players."
With no relegation in the league Bulfin is afforded considerable leeway in his attempts to mould a new team, play more challenge games and give players young players an opportunity to show what they can do.
Last year's success has, arguably, created added expectations but Bulfin again looks on that as a positive too. "Whether it's the Liam MacCarthy or Lory Meagher you're playing in if there isn't expectations there is something wrong. If you are playing for your county there are expectations to play at a certain standard and give of your best. The expectations are no different, internally, than we would have had last year."
So Bulfin is managing all kinds of changes as the new hurling seasons starts to pick up pace. How will he and his management team do that will be reflected more accurately later in the year; especially in the summer when fortune will either smile or frown on the new-look Royals.