By Cian O’Connell

For Seoirse Bulfin the timing was simply right. With extensive coaching experience on the inter-county beat, Bulfin thoroughly enjoyed a stint training Meath in 2022.

“When the opportunity arose after spending a year with them last year, I coached them, so when the opportunity arose to take on the management role, I jumped at it for a couple of reasons,” Bulfin explains.

“I've been coaching a long time and I always said I'd fancy at go at managing at some stage at inter-county level. So when the opportunity arose I couldn't turn it down.

“On top of that I had seen the potential there. I had really enjoyed working with the hurling people in Meath, the players, and the County Board. It is a really good environment to be in, so I didn't give it a second thought.”

Bulfin had been part of Davy Fitzgerald’s management teams in Waterford, Clare, and Wexford. Valuable lessons were learned along the way.

“I worked closely with Davy for a number of years so I had a fair idea and again last year with Nick Weir in Meath, I had a good idea of the broad aspect of the job,” Bulfin responds when asked about the difference in changing roles from coach to manager.

“From the minute I was appointed on the Bank Holiday weekend or not long after it in August I spent the next six or eight weeks on the phone most nights talking to clubs, County Board, and players.

“There is a lot more administration involved in it. I saw an article recently where Kieran Kingston said there is probably 60 or 70 hours a week involved in inter-county management.

“Despite the fact you are down a couple of levels from what Kieran Kingston was at in the Liam MacCarthy, the administration - the work that goes in isn't any different with the organisation and logistics that go into it.

“I'm very lucky I'm in a job that probably can facilitate that a small bit with the lecturing. On top of that I've very good support people around me in Meath both in the County Board and the coaching team I've assembled.”

One key area for Bulfin is forging and maintaining communication links with clubs in Meath. Not long after being appointed in August, Bulfin addressed the various clubs in the county.

“At the end of the day county teams wouldn't exist only for clubs,” Bulfin says. “The flip side is clubs wouldn't be as strong only for the work of the County Boards and county set-ups put into their players.

“It is very important to have a strong, symbiotic relationship between both. I met them, I set out my stall at the very beginning, I made it clear it that everyone would get a look in. If they had anyone they felt in their club that was worth a shot to contact me.

“On top of that the split season now means there isn't too much dragging and tearing out of players. You still have a couple of windows when guys aren't in the 26 they might be looking to go back to play club league games at the start of March time.

“I just wanted to be very clear with clubs so they knew exactly where I stood on all of that. I just said if guys aren't in the 26 on a particular weekend and there is a club league match that I would prefer to see them guys hurling with the club rather than having to do extra runs with our S&C coach.

“So it was to introduce myself to the clubs and to set out my stall and point out exactly how I was going to approach things.”

Does it mean clubs can buy into what the county is trying to achieve more? “I'm a firm believer in being very open and honest and transparent,” Bulfin replies.

“Some people can take it or leave it, but at least they know how they stand with you. For me I cannot overestimate the importance - particularly in a county like Meath where you are trying to develop hurling and develop their numbers - of keeping the lines of communication open to clubs.”

That can happen in several ways. “They can pick up the phone,” Bulfin adds. “A number of guys said about having a look at players, I would have spoken to them. Some came on board, some just weren't interested.

“The flip side of that is I can go to clubs and say can you give us a bit of backing with this or that or we might need the players on a particular weekend, would you let them go or whatever.

“It is important you keep talking to people and keep communicating. I've been very lucky in the set-ups I've been in with Davy and the various other County Boards.

“We always had good relationships with clubs. You learn the last thing you want - especially starting out in a new position - is that you don't want to be butting heads with the clubs before you start almost.”

Meath launched their Allianz Hurling League Division 2B campaign with a win over Wicklow, with an away match at Markievicz Park against Sligo next.

Assisting players is what Bulfin wants to accomplish, it can bring a sense of satisfaction. “It is the one thing that is slightly different if you're in a county like Waterford, Clare for the five years, or Wexford, it is slightly different - there is an element of development, but at that level it is very much success is probably required and expected a little bit quicker,” Bulfin states.

“Now in Meath there is a transition. Just simple ways of watching development, watching training the other night how they have come on from the first couple of nights at the end of November and how we are trying to implement certain things.

“There is so much satisfaction in that - seeing lads developing, doing little things you ask them to do. Then when you see it come off on a game day it is brilliant altogether.”

A lecturer in TUS Midwest, Bulfin acknowledges that the Irish sporting landscape has altered significantly during the past decade and a half.

“It is like any industry it is probably better than it was 15 years ago, it will probably not be as good now as it will be in 15 years time,” Bruff native Bulfin says. “What I see now even with the GAA club at home, the GAA for me is the greatest amateur organisation on the planet bar none. I've no problem in saying that.

“The amount of work that goes in at club level - the organisation, effectively it is amateur in name, but they are mini businesses. I see the way our club is - we are an intermediate club in Limerick - the way we have been run in the last five or six years we've had to step up a number of levels.

“The organisation - jobs are delegated now. One or two people won't run a GAA club anymore or run it very successfully. From that point of view they are all mini sports management ventures in their own right.

“I would definitely see a really professional approach the way clubs and County Boards are run in the last 15 or 20 years.

“Even compared to when I started coaching at inter-county 12 or 13 years ago I see a difference in the levels of organisation, how fine tuned everything is at the various different levels.”

Is the overlap beneficial? “There is a massive overlap, there is no point in saying otherwise,” Bulfin says.

“My main academic qualification is sports psychology, stuff like that, the same with the coaching skills and the coaching studies.

"What you are doing in the classroom you are bringing to the pitch in Dunganny or in Wexford Park, wherever you're coaching.

“The flip side of that then, I definitely find, and Mick Fennelly is in our department, but you find our students benefit.

“You can have all the sorts of theories you like and textbooks, but they could say you would you deal with such a player, how you would deal with this or that? Because you are sort of living that seven days a week nine months of the year it is great first hand knowledge to be able impart on to the students. That is what I find great.

“The theory side of any college course is great, but once you go out to start doing it is a whole different ball game. That is what I find beneficial.

“Going back to symbiotic relationships, the relationship between what I'm study and teaching on a daily basis and what I'm doing in training is brilliant. They work so well together, they go hand in glove.”

Bulfin’s passion for learning and hurling endures.