Shock announcement as Bulfin steps down as Meath hurling manager

The man from Bruff leaves role immediately

Seoirse Bulfin as stepped down as the Meath hurling manager in what is a very surprising development.

The Limerickman who was in his second year as Meath manager cited "personal reasons and family commitments" for his decision to step away at this stage.

"I have reluctantly decided to step away including for personal reasons and family commitments but I have greatly enjoyed working with the Meath hurling team.

"They are a wonderful group of committed players and I wish them nothing but the best for the future."

Bulfin's resignation comes just over a week after his team had completed their NHL Div 2A campaign when Meath finished last with one victory over Kildare from five games played.

Despite losing a large number of players from the squad from what he had available to him last year, and the disappointing league form, it was expected Bulfin would manage the team for the upcoming McDonagh Cup campaign.

It is understood a training schedule had been worked out in preparation for what promises to be a gruelling McDonagh Cup campaign against Down, Kerry, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath which makes Bulfin's decision to step away all the more surprising.

Travelling from Limerick to Meath for training sessions and games played a part in his decision to step away although he never complained about the journeys - yet it has to have been a factor.

The other week Bulfin left his home in Limerick at five in the morning, travelled to Dublin to pick up a colleague then onto Belfast where he met the Meath players.

After something to eat there he went on the team bus to Ballycran in the Ards Peninsula for a league game which his team lost by nine points.

Then the Limerickman, who has a young family, had to make the trip back home.

Bulfin had a memorable 2023 with Meath winning a league title and the Christy Ring Cup. He would have been hoping to build on that but the withdrawal of 17 players from last year's squad demolished such hopes.

Instead of building on what had been achieved Bulfin and his selectors had to start again and reconstruct a new panel.

During his playing career Bulfin was one of the goalkeepers on the Limerick minor hurling panel in the late 1990s.

While working at the Limerick Institute of Technology he struck up a relationship with former Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald who was managing the college hurling team

Both were involved in helping Limerick IT to Fitzgibbon Cup triumphs in 2005 and 2207. Bulfin was also worked a coach when Fitzgerald was manager of Waterford, Clare and Wexford.

During Bulfin's term with Clare they won their first National League title in 38 years and the All-Ireland crown in 2013.

The Meath posting was Bulfin's first role as an inter-county manager in his own right.

Now he has moved on and Meath GAA are left with the task of finding a replacement with the McDonagh Cup campaign on the horizon.

Bulfin has strong views on how he feels hurling in Meath can be improved.

"There needs to be lots of work at grassroots level, working with six or seven year olds. There needs to be a strong development plan put in place to develop hurling. You have big pockets of population.

"In those places there are lots of places who moved there from traditional hurling counties - they need to harness the talent in those big areas and try and develop young players.

"On top of that you are not forgetting the rural areas but a lot of work needs to go in at Primary School level, start working on the basics at a young age and try and instill that sense of hurling as the first sport at a young age.

"No I know that's very difficult because geography is not going to change, football is the main sport in Meath, that's just the way it is."

Earlier today Coiste na Mí C.L.G. released a letter of resignation from Bulfin.

“I am writing to inform you of my intention to resign as senior hurling manager with immediate effect due to personal and family commitments. The last two and a half years have been immensely satisfying and enjoyable, culminating in winning the League and Christy Ring double last year.

"The organisation and professionalism shown by the coaching team with whom I’ve worked with over the course of three seasons, and who left no stone unturned in our quest to do our very best for Meath GAA, and Meath Hurling in particular is to be commended.

"I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all members of Coiste na Mí, senior hurling backroom members and players who made the last three seasons so enjoyable. I would like to wish the very best of luck to all involved with Meath GAA going forward.”