Meyler has put the steel back into Cork
IT’S BEEN a year of unexpected provincial final pairings in the Senior hurling championship, and the focus turns from Leinster to Munster next Sunday when Cork take on Clare in the Munster decider.
Wexford’s involvement in the All-Ireland series ensures there will be a keen interest in the outcome around these parts. And we will have ‘skin in the game’ so to speak as Tacumshane native John Meyler is one of the key figures on the Cork backroom team.
Indeed, the former Our Lady’s Island clubman has been mentioned in dispatches more than once after the Rebels awoke from their slumber with those very impressive victories over Tipperary and Waterford respectively.
Things were at a low ebb on Leeside after losing to Wexford in championship hurling for the first time since 1956 last year, but Meyler has been credited with putting the steel back into the squad and the results are there for all to see.
As if we need reminding, the father of Irish soccer international David Meyler was the last manager to guide Wexford to a Leinster Senior hurling final prior to Davy Fitzgerald.
That was back in 2008 and, while the team shipped a heavy beating to a Kilkenny squad at the peak of its powers, they went on to push Waterford all the way before bowing out by just one point in the All-Ireland quarter-final down in Thurles.
What was Meyler’s reward? Well, some of the snowflakes in and around the squad at the time didn’t like the fact that the boss wasn’t one of these arm around the shoulder, softly, softly types in his dealings with the players, even though his direct, forceful methods had yielded such a decent result.
This, combined with weak leadership from the County Board, led to that infamous meeting in Dungarvan when Meyler was informed that his services were no longer required.
We all know what happened next, as one of the worst decisions in the history of Wexford G.A.A. had such far-reaching repercussions.
Meyler still commands a lot of respect in his native county, and he will carry a lot of good wishes as Cork enter the fray against the Banner county next Sunday.