McEnaney promises "improved" Meath in 2012
November 27, 2011Seamus McEnaney is confident that Meath will showed a marked improvement in 2012 after his first year as manager failed to live up to expectations.
Despite overseeing just three competitive victories this year against Sligo in the National League, and Louth and Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers, 'Banty' is anything but downbeat as he prepares for the second of a three-year term. While accepting that Meath's performances weren't good enough in 2011, he says the commitment of the players cannot be questioned and argues that they deserved better for their efforts.
"The players gave me everything this year. They worked really hard, but for some reason we weren't getting the performances," he says.
"The year didn't turn out like I hoped it would, but as it went on and we got more of a shape on the team and I thought the performances got better. We had good wins over Louth and Galway in the championship and came very close to beating what was a very strong Kildare team in Navan. Had we taken a few chances when the game was up for grabs with 10 minutes to go, who knows where we would have ended up this year."
He continues: "I'm in a much stronger position now than I was this time last year when I didn't know the players, and I've no doubt in my mind that we'll see an improvement in the year ahead. I'm looking forward to getting back it."
After the fallout from last year's controversial Leinster final victory over Louth and the surprise departure of Eamonn O'Brien, the Meath county board decided to break with tradition by making Corduff man McEnaney their first 'outside' manager last November. The decision wasn't well received by many, meaning McEnaney was under the spotlight from the very start.
However, he insists: "I didn't feel any extra pressure because I was Meath's first 'outside' manager.
"I've been involved in inter-county management for the past nine years with Monaghan and Meath and I'm well used to the stick that comes with the job. Managing Meath is no different to managing Monaghan as far as I'm concerned. At the end of the day, you're working with a group of players who are loyal to you and you're loyal to them, and you're not worrying about what goes on or what's said outside the group.
"But there's no hiding the fact that it has been a difficult 12 months for me. To be fair to the Meath county board, and the executive in particular, they were very supportive of me when things weren't going well.
"I'm not one for making excuses, but there were a few mitigating factors like Stephen Bray being unavailable for three months and Graham Reilly missing three-quarters of the National League through injury.
"Being the last inter-county manager in the country to be appointed last month meant I didn't have an opportunity to work with the players before the winter training ban kicked in at the start of November. And when we came back in January, the snow held things up further. All of these factors meant we weren't able to hit the ground running."
Meath struggled for form in the National League and were facing the unthinkable prospect of relegation to Division 3 until a draw with Tyrone in their final game, coupled with Kildare's last-gasp win over Sligo in Newbridge, saw them stay in Division 2 on scoring difference. In the championship, Kildare ended the Meath's reign as Leinster champions after Graham Geraghty had a goal incorrectly disallowed for 'square ball'. The Royals put that disappointment behind them to beat Louth and Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers before losing to the Lilywhites again.
"The highlights were retaining our Division 2 status and beating Louth and Galway in the championship," McEnaney reflects.
"We were delighted to get a result against Tyrone as going down to Division 3 would have been a big blow to everyone involved. We lost three times to Kildare this year and the third one in Navan was the hardest to take. There was a five-minute period when the sides were level in the second half when we had chances to take the lead but didn't. We lost Seamus Kenny to injury at a crucial stage and that came back to haunt us when the Kildare half back (Emmett Bolton) came forward to score the deciding goal with five minutes to go.
"Our lads kept battling to the end, but it wasn't enough unfortunately."
The Meath manager stands over his controversial decision to bring Graham Geraghty out of retirement after three years on the eve of the championship. The move prompted Liam Harnan and Barry Callaghan to resign their roles as selectors (Paul Grimley also opted out at the end of the season to join the management team in his native Armagh). They have since been replaced by Tom Keague and Geraghty, while Martin McElkennon remains on as strength and conditioning coach.
"I have no regrets whatsoever about bringing Graham Geraghty back. My only regret was that he wasn't fit to play against Kildare in Navan. He may be 38, but class is permanent and you saw that when he came on against Kildare in Croke Park and scored a goal - which should never have been disallowed - with his first touch."
Asked if there will still be a playing role for the 1999 All-Ireland winning captain next year, 'Banty' replied: "Graham is carrying an injury at the moment and if his rehabilitation goes well, there is no reason why he can't play as well as selecting next year."
McEnaney takes particular encouragement from the emergence of talented young players such as Ciaran Lenehan, Mark O'Sullivan, Paddy Gilsenan, Brian Menton and Willie Ryan, as well as Shane McAnarney's transformation into a top-class inter-county player.
"The big positive I would take from the year was how well the young players acquitted themselves. We blooded five of them and they didn't look out of place. Shane McAnarney's development into a great player was also very pleasing. He had a massive year and will be a key man going forward."
He added: "We looked at over 100 players over a 10-month period and have also taken in a lot of club games. We've seen a fair bit of club football from senior down to junior, and even junior league. We've left no stone unturned in our attempt to unearth new talent."
The Monaghan man has set two goals for his side in 2012.
"I want to improve the team and maximise its potential," he says.
"Our first objective will be to get into a more comfortable position in Division 2 and not to be worrying about relegation. Fellas will tell you that the League doesn't matter, but it does. The teams you see now in the business end of the League are the same teams you see in the business end of the championship. We have to be pushing for as high as possible in Division 2."
While Meath have been handed a favourable championship draw, 'Banty' is refusing to look beyond the first round clash with Wicklow.
"Gloria used to sing a song called 'One Day At A Time', and that's my motto when it comes to management. I'm not looking past the first game against Wicklow. They've progressed really well under Mick O'Dwyer over the last few years and the new manager (Harry Murphy) will freshen them up.
"My focus is on the first round of the O'Byrne Cup and League, and there will be a lot of water under the bridge by time the Wicklow game comes around. As I said, I know the players better now and we'll be ready to go in January." Tweet
