Major boost for Nick Weir and Meath hurling

GAA Bulfin and Slattery added to backroom team

One of the interesting pieces of information to emerge from the Meath Co Board meeting at Knightsbrook Hotel on Tuesday evenng of last week was that Nick Weir would be staying on manager of the Meath hurling team. He received a two-year extension to the two years he has already served.

That was not all that surprising. After Meath's achievement in retaining Joe McDonagh Cup status in 2021 it might have been expected the Raharney native would once more get the green and gold light to stay in charge - if he wanted it. He did.

What was something of an eye opener was the composition of his backroom team - and particularly the addition of Seoirse Bulfin as the coach/selector. He will link up with selectors David Reilly and Steven Clynch.

Those who know their hurling and follow the game recognise Bulfin as a man who is at the cutting edge of things when it comes to preparing teams in the modern game; someone to be respected.

A lecturer in Limerick IT Sports Department, Bulfin after all worked for 18 years with Davy Fitzgerald first at LIT. Later he was Firzgerald's right-hand-man at inter-county level with Waterford (one year), Clare (five years) and Wexford (five years).

When requested to comment on the appointment by Co Board chairman John Kavanagh, former Meath manager Nick Fitzgerald certainly waxed lyrical about what it meant for Meath hurling to have Bulfin on board. Fitzgerald described it "as a massive addition."

While he was reluctant to say how the Bulfin connection was established Weir agrees it is a major boost.

"I would say it opened a lot of eyelids when the news broke that Seoirse was joining us. How they hell did they get him?" he added.

"When I was talking to Seoirse it was clear he sees potential in the group of players we have and he was very eager to get involved which is great from a hurling perspective in Meath.

"I think when the news came out hurling people in Meath would have had a pep in their step because he was getting involved."

A resident of Bruff, Bulfin will make the lengthy journey up to Royal County and back on a regular basis to help the Royal County cause.

"Seorise, no more than myself, loves hurling and he probably sees the attraction of working in a county that hasn't won a big competition like the Joe McDonagh.

"I suppose he sees it as a challenge, bringing the experience he has of winning an All-Ireland (with Clare in 2013), winning a Munster, a National Hurling League.

"I'd say he just sees the potential in the lads. The fact that he is willing to drive three hours up the road says a lot for the man."

It's an arrangement that is likely to involve a considerable financial commitment in terms of expenses alone for the Co Board who are clearly willing to support the manager. "I would have to say the Co Board have shown great support to me by willing to back my proposal for the backroom team. When you have the backing of the Co Board like that it is brilliant," he added. Another significant addition to the team is strength and conditioning coach Ed Slattery who the manager also describes "as a serious addition."

Slattery works full-time with the IRFU as an Athletic Performance Coach and he also worked with Ballyboden St Enda's.

"He was very keen to get involved with an inter-county set-up and I took the opportunity to get in contact with him and he went with us as well which is great," added Weir.

Last August Weir led Meath to their first victory in the Joe McDonagh Cup at Pairc Tailteann with a win over Kerry.

They followed that with a status-securing victory over Kildare in the same competition in Parnell Park.

Weir believes Meath have the potential to do a lot better than just consolidate their place in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

"I was interested in staying on as Meath manager because I think we can learn from last year and bring it to another level," he said.

"I would like to have a good league campaign, build into the championship. I think it's a realistic target that we can win the Joe McDonagh Cup even though it's a fiercly competitive competition, especially with the likes of Antrim and Offaly.

"People will be writing us off, but I feel with the group of lads we have, maybe with a few additions, I think we can really build something.

"I think we can come in under the radar again," he added.

You get the sense Weir can't wait for the serious action to start.