'Life will throw things at you at different stages, it is all about how you react and how you respond'

Meath manager proud of his young squad despite Ring Cup exit

Manager Johnny Greville cut an exhausted and disappointed figure after Meath fell short of the Christy Ring Cup final despite a victory over Donegal in Letterkenny on Saturday.

The Westmeath native admitted that the battle was probably lost when the Royals only managed a draw with Derry seven days earlier.

“The overall feeling now is disappointment. We knew we had to come here and win either way and we did that bit. Well done to Derry for getting across the line and best of luck to them in the final but for us as a group, our target was to reach the Christy Ring Cup final. We came close and had it in our own hands last week,” said Greville.

“We have left it behind us really but as I said to the lads, life will throw things at you at different stages, it is all about how you react and how you respond. This is a sport that we all love and put so much into. We will just have to go back and put the shoulder to the wheel and try put ourselves back in a similar position next year.”Meath were warm favourites for Saturday's clash but they didn’t really perform to the best of their capabilities despite getting the win. Greville praised Donegal for their efforts and also said that his side may have had a nervous energy about them given what was on the line in Letterkenny.

“Donegal are a good team and they are very athletic. In the middle third they have a lot of lads that burst through. Only a fool would look at the result they had against Rosscommon last week and think that they were not going to give today's game a 1000%. We probably learned from last week that we have to take a foothold in the game and ensure that we close it out,” said Greville.

“The lads were always going to be nervous and apprehensive because of what was on the line today. They are a young team and to be able to manage those emotions is important as well. We had to try and stick to our process today. To be able to grind it out, especially into the wind in the second-half was pleasing.”

Greville expressed how immensely proud he is of his squad for their efforts and commitment this year. He said that it was difficult to deliver the news of the Derry result at full-time to his players after they had battled hard to get the victory over Donegal.

“I couldn't be prouder of them as a group. We have been talked down since day one and all the stuff about the lads who didn't commit, but in my heart I knew that we had a group of players that were really going to represent that jersey well. They have represented their county, club and families with huge pride and huge passion. It is a testament to the work that they have put in and it has been a really enjoyable year working with a group of players that are so honest,” said Greville.

“It was difficult to deliver the news of the Derry result to the players at the full-time whistle. We really got to connect as a group over the last six or seven months. We got to all know each other very personally and we really are an integrated group.”

Greville offered a wider outlook on Saturday’s outcomes regarding the impact on the players' personal lives. He expressed that he is hopeful for the future of Meath hurling given the strides that were made this year of which he said that he was not one bit surprised by.

“There are a lot of things going on in lads' lives that are much bigger than today. Today was a game that we love doing and no one has died, even though it feels a bit like that at times. We can be proud of what the lads have achieved and over the next week or two, the lads will reflect on the year positively with loads of things to work on. For a lot of those lads, their journey is only starting,” said Greville.

“I'm not surprised at all by the strides we have made this year. I have been at a lot of club games since taking the job and the players are there. It is just a matter of people changing their mindsets and shifting the culture a bit.

"We were given a job to do and we are doing it to the best of our ability. Of course, we would have loved to be in Croke Park in two weeks but it hasn’t happened.

"Overall I am not surprised one bit with the improvements we have made and I hope that the hurling fraternity in Meath are proud of the lads.”

Johnny Greville and the Meath hurlers will now turn their attention to the club scene as they look to rebuild and reset ahead of another tilt at Christy Ring Cup glory in 2027.