Meyler looking to maintain Kingdom’s momentum

Christy Ring Cup SH Semi-Final

“We’re going well but it’s not like it’s Cork and Tipp last Sunday – we’re at a different level,” says the Wexford-born Cork star. “Our main goal at the start of the year was to get to Division 2 in the league next year, where we’ll get a higher standard of hurling, of presentation, of opposition – we’ve done that. Our emphasis was on the league, on getting to Division 2. The Christy Ring allows us to continue building towards that, gives us a few extra competitive games – I suppose it gives you a slow-burn introduction to it, a gradual climb up to next season and the next level, where you’re going to be meeting the likes of Carlow, Laois, who are in the Leinster championship.”

Meyler added: “It’s a nice step-by-step approach. We’re trying to integrate some of the older fellas, the likes of Shane Brick (out for the past three months with tendonitis in the hamstring), Tom Murnane, Liam Boyle, Gary O’Brien, with some of the younger fellas. We have two of last year’s minors with us, Colm Harty and Shane Nolan. Nolan is playing, Harty has played nearly all the challenge matches, he’s nearly ready now as well, but definitely they’ll be ready for next year.

“It’s a slow process, but what we’re trying to do is get ourselves ready for Division 2 next year. We have a plan in place already for the National League, which is of huge importance for us in developing hurling in Kerry.”

They will, of course, be expected to beat Wicklow, but then again says John, that’s nothing strange. “Sure we were expected to beat everyone we’ve played, and I’ve gone through that with the players myself. I’m sure Liam Sheedy would have told the Tipp players before last Sunday that they were expected to win that match. We’ve been saying that to the lads in training, and isn’t that the bottom line in sports anyway, that you’re expected to win your matches?”

Wicklow though – surprise packages at this stage of the Christy Ring? Not in the least, he reckons. “If you followed Division 3B, they won all their matches, had a scoring differential of 94 points. They beat Mayo in Aughrim in the first round of the Christy Ring, then lost to Kildare in the next round but they had a man sent off in that one. I was talking to Andy Comerford (Kildare manager) and he told me he was surprised by them, Kildare just got the better of them in the end. Except for that match against Kildare they’re unbeaten, and they have a fierce enthusiasm – that’s one thing that’s really noticeable, a fierce energy.”

Nevertheless, a big weekend for Kerry hurlers, even if it is lost a little in the Cork/Kerry Munster senior football championship hype, though John – as feisty now as ever he was in his own playing days – takes issue with that: “No, no, absolutely not; I’m telling them down here, if the hurlers win on Saturday, it’s up to the footballers after that, but we’re first. Hurling is the number one game... everywhere!”