Greville pleased with continued progression

Just under 12 months ago, Wicklow effectively ended Meath’s hopes of Christy Ring Cup success with a comprehensive victory in Aughrim. At the same venue on Sunday, Johnny Greville’s side firmly put those demons behind them with a statement performance which put them in a fantastic position to qualify for the final of the third-tier competition.

“That was brilliant. I suppose the most pleasing aspect was that we registered another big scoreline this week. We scored a lot from play, and the load is being spread as well. We have been driving that home this year since we started. We needed to be more about the collective as a group than playing as individuals,” said Greville after his side dispatched the Garden County in impressive fashion.

Greville had high praise to the two goal scorers on the day, Kyle Ennis and Lorcan Byrne. He also praised stalwart Damien Healy.

“Wicklow have been really industrious and when we were looking at their game against Derry last week we had noticed that Andrew Kavanagh had dropped back to mark Shea Cassidy. We just saw an opportunity to exploit the space there early," said the manager.

"Lorcan (Byrne) got the opportunity for the goal early and delivered. He was unlucky not to get a second one. Kyle Ennis was brilliant as well. I think that is his first senior start. The goal was fortunate but that is the luck of the bounce. He was in a position to get the shot off and he took the opportunity.

“The lads know that it is brilliant to get this performance today and get the pat in the back. It is really important though to reset. We will enjoy this today but then we will turn our focus to Derry in two weeks. We have a bunch of players who on any given day can really deliver. Damien Healy was brilliant again today, I’d say his GPS nearly blew up. The players are really buying into what we are trying to do as a group.”

Meath restricted Wicklow’s scoring opportunities from open play and the majority of their tally came from dead-ball opportunities. While Greville was very pleased with the intensity that his defensive set-up brought, he did say that they will look to eliminate giving away unnecessary fouls.

“In open play, we limited Wicklow’s opportunities really well and they only got seven points from play. Our foul count was high and maybe that is something we have to look at. Maybe it is an energy and intensity thing and I don’t want to take that out of the players either. We can’t give good teams with good free-takers that many opportunities. I know we didn’t get too many of them ourselves but Tom Shine didn’t miss a free today which was pleasing.”

In their opening two games, Meath failed to score a goal. The Royals were more goal hungry on Sunday which Greville described as not a necessity but a bonus.

“We obviously got the two goals and broke in a few more times as well on top of that. We don’t really focus on trying to get goals, it is more about managing the moments in the games but it’s obviously important to take the opportunities when they come," explained the manager.

"If you keep scoring 24-27 points, sometimes that will get you across the line without goals.

It is great to add the goals, especially when you are coming to places that are difficult ike Aughrim. I think down the other end we did well to limit their goal opportunities because they have been really proficient in that area. We shut them down well today in that regard.”

Greville explained how he and his management team have tried to instil a culture of self-belief in the side. He admits that Meath are in a strong place at the moment but also said that they have to keep that momentum going for the last two league games.

The Westmeath native concluded by explaining the odd occurrence late on which saw Joey Cole leave the field with an injury only to return a few moments later and set up Damien Healy for a score.

“It is all about confidence. Every time I speak to them I try to get across the belief that we have in them as a management team and remind them of what they are capable of.

"Sometimes they just sit within themselves but we do try and get them to express themselves and show the Meath public that we are a really good hurling team. We are youthful, strong and resilient. We are in a good place now but it is important that we back up that performance with another strong one in two weeks' time.

“Joey (Cole) was suffering a bit of a cramp. When he came off, he thought he was being replaced but we had no more subs left. It was around when they scored their goal late on and I just said to him to go back on and stand on the square. He ran in then and won the first ball and off-loaded to Damien Healy for a score. That just epitomised what this team is about.”

Meath now have two weeks to prepare for their penultimate group game against Derry in Trim. Wins over Derry and Donegal will be enough for Meath to qualify for the final of the Christy Ring Cup.