A new year and a chance for Bray to put the wrongs to right

A new year, a new manager and very much a new Bray Emmets hurling team according to club vice Chairman Liam McGraynor as last year’s beaten finalists prepare to get their 2018 campaign underway with a clash against Kiltegan on Monday night next in Joule Park Aughrim at 7.45pm.

Having survived a huge test from St Patrick’s in the semi-final of last year’s campaign, neutrals fancied the then defending champions to complete their four-in-a-row by getting over what was always going to be a difficult task against Glenealy.

However, the Reds came prepared. Garry Laffan had them biting at the bit and despite leading in the second half, Bray couldn’t match Glenealy’s hunger and their reign at the top was over.

‘Disappointed with last year to be honest,’ said Liam McGraynor. ‘We felt it was a game we should have won, we were three or four points up in the second half and we should have pushed on but didn’t.

‘This year we’ve a new manager, we’ve a couple of lads back and we’re starting from scratch,’ he added hopefully.

Mikey Lee’s departure from the club was well publicised and a return to the jersey in the future is a possibility and given his showings in the Wicklow jersey his talents would be welcome on any club team in Wicklow.

But Bray Emmets are anything but a one-man team. Within their ranks they possess oodles of talent and strength from goalkeeper all the way to corner-forward and they will also have a well-stocked subs bench for this championship campaign.

A big season from Padraig Doyle will see Bray Emmets go a long way to regaining the title. Doyle is a massive player for Paul Carley’s side. John Henderson needs no introduction, Diarmuid Masterson, Christy Moorehouse, the names just drop on to the page with a resounding thud.

Liam McGraynor feels that this year’s championship is one of the most open in a long time with each of the six teams poised to go the distance or at least cause headaches.

‘Éire Óg, Pat’s, any of the teams could do it this year. I know maybe you could say that Kiltegan are the weakest, but they could turn us over on Monday evening,’ he said.

McGraynor says that training is going very well at the club and that their Dublin league campaign has been a mixed bag but that the majority of the games were played with experimental teams.

‘We’re happy with how the year has gone, we were mid-table in the league but playing up in Dublin gives us different opposition and regular games,’ he said.

Paul Carley has settled in well at the club says McGraynor.

‘Paul’s a players’ man and the lads interact with him really well. He came to us from Ballyboden and they should have beaten Cuala and they went on to win the All-Ireland and that’s a really high level and the lads respect that,’ he added.