Welcome to the dugout

WELCOME to the dugout. Michael Moynihan spoke to some of the new managers on the intercounty scene.

FORGET the L plates. When it comes to managing an intercounty football team, you have to hit the ground running. In Clare, there's a double act at the helm Galway man Michael Brennan and Kerry native Donie Buckley and both are experienced managers. Buckley has coached Banner intercounty sides at minor and Under-21 level, while Brennan has handled senior club sides in Clare. Not to mention teams in other codes.

"Years ago, I would have trained rugby teams in UCG," says

Brennan. "I'd have a strong interest in rugby, and obviously if soccer and rugby are playing and preparing professionally, then you'd expect them to leave no stone unturned. You'd have to pay attention to what they're doing to see if you can take anything and apply it to your own situation."

Brennan, who stresses the fact that he and Buckley are in partnership as managers, is a little surprised by some of the demands on his time.

"Having played intercounty myself (with Galway) I had some idea what to expect. To be honest, it's not so much the commitment to training and games as much as the ancillary activities - like the media! I don't think people are aware of how much time that that entails and the level of interest that exists, even for a county like Clare which wouldn't have had as much success in recent years as other counties."

Paul Bealin, Wexford's new football manager, is relaxed about the media: "That doesn't bother me. The media are going to be there, and we need them as much as they need us. I think you can be honest and open without giving away too much of what's going on."

Bealin spent a long time in the public eye himself. During 11 seasons with the Dublin seniors, he won five Leinster titles and two National Leagues, playing in three All-Ireland finals and winning one. Wexford hope that experience will be put to good use.

"Let's be honest, results are what it's about. Wexford possibly have the opportunity of winning a Leinster title. They're not far off that and that's our goal. That's where the psychology comes in if Wexford can go out and take Tyrone in a league semi-final by a point, or compete with Dublin for 45 minutes, then they're good enough to win.

"It may be a lack of consistency, a lack of belief or confidence, and I'll be zoning in on those areas. The Wexford team doesn't need to be taken apart brick by brick, as I've said all along. I was offered other intercounty jobs, but I didn't go for the interviews. When the Wexford County Board got in touch I went to the interview because I believe this team has potential."

Bealin and Brennan are both managing outside their native counties, though there's a subtle difference between them. Brennan is based in Clare, whereas Bealin heads north to Dublin after training.

"I'm living in Barefield," says Brennan. "There are benefits to

being in the county obviously in terms of travelling and seeing matches, but I remember talking to colleagues of mine in the army, like Tom Carr, who trained counties that they weren't living in. They said there was an advantage in being able to get in the car and get away from the scene as well. I suppose there's a balance to be struck."

Bealin echoes that point, having previously steered Cavan's

Mullahoran to two county finals. "When I was managing in Cavan, I found it great that you could go to training, do your business, then get into your car and head home rather than going down to the local and hearing who should be playing right-corner back or corner-forward. It's good to get in the car and get away from the area and from people saying this guy or that guy should be playing."

Both Clare and Wexford are strong dual counties, which brings its own challenges.

"I'd give an unqualified thanks to Pat (Fitzgerald) and Michael

(McDonagh) of the Clare County Board," says Brennan, "They've given us everything we need in terms of resources. It's probably more difficult in a dual county, where the county board sometimes needs the wisdom of Solomon to get things divided up, but they've been very good to us."

However, the geographical divisions in Clare mean the dual player conundrum rarely arises.

Unlike Wexford.

"Redmond Barry is probably our best-known dual player," says Bealin. "He's now 100% football. We told him we don't want him to pack in football. If his performance on the football pitch is causing a problem, then he won't be picked, and he may have to make a decision two or three months down the road to pick one or the other, but I'm just glad that he's 100% football now. The next stage is that maybe he'll have the option to play a couple of hurling matches, but it's not the other way around, where he's giving the hurling the commitment and maybe making himself available for football.

"From that perspective, it's been quite easy, but certainly he was the first player I contacted when I was appointed. I'd read that he was

going to go one way or the other, but I asked him not to make a decision until he'd seen our set-up, and he's happy with what he's seen."

Brennan and Bealin are as one when it comes to support staff.

"We're very happy with our back-up team," says Brennan.

"We've been lucky in that we have just the lads we need. For instance, we have a PE teacher above in Galway looking after lads there, because there's no benefit in dragging players down and getting them to travel, you don't get much out of that."

Bealin concurs.

"It's important that the people you're working with, that you can trust them and believe in what they're saying. For instance, there are that so many sports psychologists around the country that you're almost wondering who to get, but I've worked with one or two who are very good. We have a nutritionist, good trainers, and the set-up is fresh and new. There are players who haven't played with the county team for a while who are looking to come back to the panel that's very positive, it shows people are beginning to believe in what we're doing with the team."

And if Bealin's Wexford come up against opponents in sky blue?

"That question always puts a smile on my face. Unless we meet Dublin in the qualifiers the only way we'll meet them is in the Leinster final, and if we do, I'll be going out to plot a win. I'm a Dub through and through but I'm here to do a job with Wexford."