The Meath senior hurlers are set to commence their preparations for the 2015 season and new manager Martin Ennis's enthusiasm for the job is infectious.

As we spoke the Athboy man he was in the middle of organising the next two months of pre-season, before Meath play their first competitive game of the new year when the Kehoe Cup gets underway in January.

"We are working getting the players together at the moment and we will have a few new faces involved," Ennis told hoganstand.com.  "We will have some challenges organised this month and we will be aiming to give everybody a chance."

Ennis spent 10-years in the Meath jersey as a player and he has been joined in his management team by a host of former county stalwarts.

"I am delighted to have such an experienced backroom team involved, we have all played hurling for the county. John Andrews and Kevin Dowd have both spent over 10-years playing for Meath, while Mickey Cole is our physio and he is another hugely experienced former player."

Giving the players the opportunity to maximise their potential is a key part of Ennis's philosophy and he has been able to call on the services of the highly respected Kevin Cumiskey to work with the players.

"All-Ireland champion boxer Kevin Cumiskey is coming on board to work on the strength and conditioning for the next couple of months and we are very lucky to have him on board."

Meath hurling has had its up and downs recently and the new manager wants to create positive headlines in the year ahead.

"The draw for the Christy Ring Cup has just been made and we can't wait to get started. We are looking to take Meath hurling back up the hurling ladder and get up out of Division 2B in the league."

Ennis' appointment was confirmed at the start of October but he revealed that he was contacted about the job during the summer.

"I was approached by the Meath hurling committee after Cillian Farrell stood down from the position, which was about three months before being ratified," revealed Martin. "I said I would come back to them nearer to the time (of the appointment) and I was delighted to be given the opportunity.

"They (the hurling committee) had also been in contact with me last year when there was uncertainty over whether Cillian Farrell would commit to 2014."

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