Model manager Meyler wary of dangerous Déise
And especially what he would have thought about Eoin Kelly’s sparkling form in attack knowing that Wexford will again be missing full-back Keith Rossiter when they clash at the same venue on Sunday (2pm) in the GAA All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.
They kept it quiet in the lead-up to the Leinster final but Rossiter was never going to be fit to play because of an on-going groin problem which had prevented him from training for the semi-final against Dublin.
“We had hoped he’d be right for the Leinster final, but what kept him going for the (two) Dublin matches was intensive physio and injections. He was considered too high risk against Kilkenny,’’ he commented.
In his absence, Paul Roche was played at full-back. Asked if there would be a change made, he responded: “we just have to wait this week and see how we are going.’’
Before Meyler and Mike McNamara took their seats in Semple Stadium to watch the two qualifier games, their teams met in a challenge game in Tullamore, which was won by Clare 1-22 to 1-21. “It was no more than a good work-out for 55 minutes,” he remarked. “That’s really what challenge matches are for, to try out things and try subs and that was the way it worked out. We were happy with it. I assume Clare were too.’’
IN REAL terms, Meyler is concerned about how well his team will be prepared for a team which, he says, has enjoyed a higher profile over the past decade. He points out that Offaly had the advantage of a championship match (against Limerick) before they took on Waterford. The view beforehand was that they could very well put up a strong challenge because of the relative freedom offered by playing outside of Leinster (again) — and avoiding Kilkenny. But that was not to be
Mention Kilkenny to Meyler and he becomes quite animated, focusing on the task confronting Wexford every year.
“We are always facing Kilkenny, either in the first or second match of the year. You can be ruthlessly exposed and it can knock the stuffing out of you. Really you have to peak early because your All-Ireland final could be your first match in Leinster — as distinct from Munster where it could be your fourth.
“The problem is that every year that goes by is an extra year that puts extra pressure on you. It’s not a case that we will get it right in two years time. You can rest assured that Kilkenny and Cork and Tipp are doing their damndest at this point in time.
“You can build for the future but you can get knocked back suddenly — much like Galway last Saturday. Everyone was saying they were the team to beat this year based on the quarter-final last year against Kilkenny. Now they are thinking, where are we now.
“I think you have to take every opportunity when it’s right there in front of you. You just can’t say we’ll build for three years time. That doesn’t work.’’
While Davy Fitzgerald suggested after Waterford’s win on Saturday that Waterford are not yet at the same standard as the likes of Kilkenny and Tipperary (and you could now add in Cork), Meyler rejects the view. “They have been there as potential All-Ireland winners for the last 10 years since Justin and Gerald were there. They were always in everyone’s top two or three to win the All-Ireland. They still have most of that team.
“And you saw how good Cork were last Sunday when everyone was writing them off — that they were gone and they were this and they were that. I don’t buy into that. They gave a superb display in the second half against Galway.’’
At a time when he is without his first-choice full-back and Cork made a significant change for the second-half against Galway, he has no doubt that Ken McGrath can do a good job for Waterford there. “That’s interesting. They felt that there was a problem, that Ken might be better suited there and Tony Browne at centre-back. Everyone is trying to fix things up.Cork put John Gardiner back and it seemed to work. You know what Loughnane was trying. We are all trying different things to get the right balance.
“It’s only Kilkenny that have the natural balance — where Jackie Tyrrell came out (from corner-back) in the Leinster final and played midfield. You’d swear he was there all his life.’’
If Kilkenny have the right balance, Meyler says that the championship system is unbalanced. But, he’s not a quitter, adding he doesn’t fear anyone. You know that he will have Wexford psyched up for this game — irrespective of their perceived difficulties.
