Taking the Kingdom on to the next level

FOR John Meyler, this afternoon’s Christy Ring Cup final date with Wicklow is a first step. Winning it would be a means to an end.

“It would mean we would be back in September to start training for next year’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship and looking forward to travelling to Semple Stadium to play Tipperary next May.”

He is half joking with the second part of that, but the Wexford native has lofty ambitions for Kerry hurling. After all, Meyler was at the helm on that famous day back in 1993 when Kerry shocked the hurling world by beating Waterford in the Munster SHC.

First things first, though. And Meyler is delighted to be within touching distance of Kerry’s first Christy Ring Cup win as he reflects on the campaign so far.

“We stuttered at times against Kildare and Meath but always finished well. I think we scored about 1-5 at the end of both those two games so we showed the necessary character.”

He refuses to accept that Kerry have a habit of not finishing teams off, of allowing big leads slip. In the semi-final meeting with Down in Newry, they led by as much as nine points in the second half before edging home by a point.

“I said before we travelled to Newry that if we go up there and beat Down, then we would be a in good position to win the Christy Ring Cup and I think that’s the important thing. We were reduced to 13 men with six minutes to go and it showed great character from the players left on the field to hold out. It was great to see Mikey Boyle catch the last puckout when we were up a point and you needed somebody to show leadership.”

Meyler sees that character in his side building all the time.

“I think last year I was driving them on more, but this year they are taking more ownership of what is required to be done in clutch situations and that definitely got us through in Newry.”

A somewhat experimental league campaign this spring allowed Meyler develop the depth of his panel.

“When I thought after four games in the league that four points had us reasonably safe, I decided that against Limerick, Clare and Laois we could try fellows and they were able to gain valuable experience. That’s why when we went into the Christy Ring Cup without John Griffin, Colin Harris and Andrew Keane, we have no qualms about throwing people in anymore because they all have hurled against strong opponents and can get to the pace of the game quickly. We could not do that in the past.”

Meyler does admit that the loss of Kilmoyley defender Tom Murnane is a huge blow to Kerry’s prospects today.

“Tom has been our most influential and most consistent player for the last two years because he is a big-game player. But the character of this team is all about coping.”

And he insists games like today will stand to a young side that are just in the second year of a three or even five-year plan for Kerry hurling.

“No I am not afraid of going to Croke Park with a young side. Young people today have no fear of a big challenge and no obstacle fazes them. These lads have been used to winning at B level. They know where the bar is and they will not go below it. The younger lads are the future. Colm Harty is back, Padraig Boyle, still a minor, is back in and there are a few more young fellows starting to come on board.

“I want to be ready for the Munster Senior Championship down the road, that’s the plan. Anything else along the way is a bonus.”

So can Kerry beat Wicklow today? Meyler is cautious. “Last year we let ourselves down badly against Wicklow in the semi-final at Nenagh. Andrew Keane got sent off after four minutes and we were all over the shop. Wicklow should have beaten us and we were just haunted to get away with a win in the last few minutes. We had to put Mike Conway back to centre back and James Flaherty came on and scored four points.

“While I was delighted with the win, I was really annoyed with the lads because I felt we lacked a certain bit of composure at vital times. But this year is different. I respect Wicklow — they won Div 3B and then Div 3A and they are up in Div 2 next year.

“They have a dangerous full-forward line and I am sure Leighton Glynn will be back. When you throw in Jonathon O’Neill, they have serious forwards. But my concern is to get Kerry right and if we play as we are capable of playing, I am confident that we can do it.”

Picture: PAINFUL FLASHBACK: John Egan is crestfallen after last year’s defeat by Westmeath. Manager John Meyler is confident the players are ready to go one step better than last year and win the Christy Ring Cup final today. Picture: Stephen McCarthy