Cross-channel visits have helped Meyl er to prepare
JOHN MEYLER has been a familiar figure at cross-channel soccer games and even training sessions involving son David during his time with Sunderland and Hull City.
It’s an obvious show of support to the 20-times capped Irish international but there is the added advantage of taking a watching interest in what the coaches have put together and what can be applied from a professional background to his own sport.
Meyler has managed Wexford, Kerry and Carlow but the reshaped GAA season, coinciding with his first year as manager of his native Cork, brought a renewed focus on what he could take from his son’s weekly routine as a professional.
David Meyler, now with Reading where he is a week into pre-season, flew into Dublin on Sunday morning to attend the game in Thurles before returning late on Sunday night.
His joy at seeing his father succeed in such a competitive environment was obvious afterwards.
Meyler Snr admitted earlier in the year that he had been drawing on his son’s experiences with recovery and being able to park a weekend game quickly to turn attention to the task.
“When there is training I speak to him every day about how they trained to see if he happy with things and how are going.
“He might talk of how he wants to improve this or work on this. It is really only small-talk,” said the 29-year-old.
“He comes and watches my training sessions, to see if he can pick up anything that would help his hurling coaching.
“He puts in a lot of time and effort. So to see him involved in a team that wins the Munster Championship, in the new round-robin system, is brilliant.”
He acknowledged his advice is limited, pointing to the expertise in his own back-room team.
“Obviously, I help him on certain things. The old GAA system played over a number of weeks, you peaked over a couple of games.
“Now you can’t dwell over the number of games, you have to move on.”
Meyler (pictured below with his father) said he had no match-day role and had visited the dressingroom afterwards to congratulate his Dad and those players that he knows – some of whom like Patrick Horgan and Daniel Kearney he played against at underage level.