Kierans looking forward to first Wee assignment
INTER-COUNTY
WAYNE Kierans kicks off his tenure as Louth manager with a ‘Battle Royale’ in Drogheda on Sunday.
There’ll be little at stake as the Reds take on old rivals Meath in an exhibition match to mark the opening of Oliver Plunketts new clubrooms extension, but it will still be a proud day for the O’Connell’s clubman as he patrols the touchline in the bainisteoir bib for the first time.
The derby clash throws in at 2pm, but the festivities will start around noon as GAA President John Horan cuts the ribbon to officially open the Plunketts impressive new facilities.
For Kierans it will be a tentative first step into inter-county management and he’ll be without up to 10 players due to Leinster club involvement.
The considerable Newtown Blues representation in his squad won’t return to training until the end of this week, so Sunday’s clash comes too soon for them and also the St Mochta’s players in Kierans’ squad.
Dundalk Young Irelands duo Derek Maguire and Fergal Sheekey are also ruled out as they will be in action for their club in the Leinster Junior semi-final a day earlier and should they advance to the final they are also unlikely to feature in the opening round of the O’Byrne Cup against Wexford on December 9th.
Kierans admitted that Sunday’s game probably comes a bit earlier than he would have liked, but he feels it will be a good chance for the players who are available to stake an early claim.
‘It’ll be good to get started, although it would have been nice to get another week training. But it gives the lads who’ve been training over the last few weeks something to aim for and with the Wexford and Wicklow games coming up it’ll be three games before Christmas.
‘It’s a chance to try a few things out and work on match fitness, but really everything is geared towards January 27th and the National League.
‘December is early for the O’Byrne Cup , but for me I’d prefer to see the start of the league pushed into February. But that’s the way it was last year so it seems to be here to stay now and you just have to get on with. In terms of the O’Byrne Cup games it doesn’t really matter [when they are]; it’s really just preparation for the league anyway.’
While it’s a big day for the new Louth chief, it’s also a special occasion for the Oliver Plunketts club
The Mell outfit have extended their clubhouse with a new hall, kitchen area and two additional dressing rooms and the chairman Tomas O hEochaidh says everyone is looking forward to the official opening.
‘It’s a big day for us no. To get Louth and Meath is a big boost and we’re very grateful to Wayne and Andy McEntee for making it happen.
‘It’s early days in terms of the season, but I think there’ll be plenty of interest in the game with it being Wayne’s first match and we’d like to to wish him the very best of luck.’