Inter-county management is not for the faint hearted and for those who can’t resist the lure of the challenge there is never a dull moment.
Eddie Brennan is one of the most decorated hurlers in the country; he’s won it all in the black and amber of Kilkenny and now his senior management career is getting started.
He took over the Laois hurlers in September last year and has learned a lot in that short space of time.
"There were adjustments, I had to find my feet and get to know lads," Brennan told RTÉ Sport.
"It’s a new thing, while you have a little bit of experience of how a set up works and how it gels together, it’s certainly in the initial stages of that, where you are getting to know people and they are getting to know you and you are trying to implement a system that works for everyone.
"Getting to know the players and their personalities is something you need to have above everything else.
"You have certain ideas and philosophies of how it’s going to be, it’s ultimately about the players and what they are about.
"I’m happy with what is happening with the players at the moment and the crew we have.
"They have applied themselves very well, there a level of honesty and commitment coming out of them that you would be happy about."
Brennan hurled for Kilkenny under the stewardship of Brian Cody. The team was renowned for their steel, grit, physicality and never say die attitude.
While their skill and ability was enviable it was their mindset that set them apart and for Brennan that is everything.
"From my own experience, it’s definitely the mindset that defines the players and the groups that are going to go places.
"It’s that you are relentless in getting the most of yourself, yes it’s an amateur sport but there is a professional commitment required that you are willing to do above and beyond that.
"From the point of view of knowing what it takes at this level all I’m trying to do is share my experiences with them.
"The psychological side of sport now is so important. Are you thinking about it when you sit down to a dinner table, are you thinking about it when you go home in the evening doing your extra bits that make a difference like getting to the ball alley.
"That’s all mindset and geared towards saying that when I get onto the pitch I can perform to the maximum.
"Commitment is a mindset too."
Galway will provide the opposition for Brennan's first League game of season followed by Waterford at home six days later. Also in the group are Offaly, Carlow and Dublin.
"It’s a very difficult group and we have two huge tasks at the very start, you are not going to come out and make foolish statements about what you expect from those matches.
"We have a game plan in mind, we have certain things we worked on in training, we have to carry those into the matches, we have to believe that and you are embracing the challenge that you have and you have to believe.
For me the league is about getting a cohesiveness about how we play, how we set up how we work for each other and that you are obviously looking at the bug picture, would I love to get to a league quarter-final I certainly would.
"We have to go up there with an open mind, roll up the sleeves and get stuck into the challenge.
"You are not going to get concessions off anyone, no team will be going through the motions, they will be going full tilt at it.
"We have to get something out of those matches, that’s the target, that’s the plan.
"If you could get something out of either them it would help, you certainly don’t want to drop down because in the interest of development you want consolidate yourself, where you are and after that you want to improve and see if you can step up further.
"I’d just like to see the fellas go out and express themselves and execute. They are capable hurlers.
"It’s a big challenge going to Salthill in the first round is a huge challenge in itself then knowing that six days later we have Waterford.
"The concern is lads are playing Fitzgibbon matches, you’d’ be hoping lads would come through unscathed."
With the Fitzgibbon Cup coinciding with the start of the League the spotlight is once more on the demands being put on young players.
Next year it's all change, with a restructured league seeing Divisions 1A and 1B combined and shuffled up into two groups. It is designed to take the edge off the incredibly competitive and attritional 1A.
Brennan, who has ten players involved with Colleges, is very mindful of his own players' welfare.
"It’s very difficult, our Fitzgibbon lads aren’t doing any grunt with us at the moment, you have to be fair to them.
"It will be as much psychological fatigue as it will be physical fatigue, we are just trying to be fair to them and we hope our counterparts at the other side are equally as mindful.
"It’s a tricky one but as long as you put it into your planning and maybe have a conversation with your counterparts and come up with something that works for both that’s the solution."
The issue of media bans being put on players hit the headlines recently when Brian Hogan of Tipperary was prohibited from speaking about his county at a press event.
"I understand why sometimes managers have to ask are some players the right people to go and talk to the media and some players aren’t comfortable in that scenario but most guys now through work and college develop their communication skills.
"I think if you make it a fear factor it will affect lads psychologically but if you tell lads it’s just part and parcel of it you take it in your stride keep it simple.
"Lads are not stupid enough to say ridiculous, off the wall stuff and I think if you are in a management set up and you are scouring the papers looking for nuggets to motivate your team you are clutching at straws."
GALWAY
Last year’s finish: Second W4 L1
Manager: Micheál Donoghue
Player to watch: Brian Concannon – After catching the eye in his few starts last season, the Killimordaly clubman will be hoping for more game time in Galway’s front line.
FIXTURES
27 January: Galway v Laois
3 February: Carlow v Galway
17 February: Galway v Dublin
24 February: Offaly v Galway
3 March: Waterford v Galway
DUBLIN
Last year’s finish: Fourth W2 L3
Manager: Mattie Kenny
Player to watch: John Hetherton – Encouraging signs early doors for the Dubs, with Hetherton equally adept scorinf from placed balls or from play.
FIXTURES
26 January: Dublin v Carlow
3 February: Offaly v Dubln
17 February: Galway v Dublin
24 February: Dublin v Waterford
3 March: Waterford v Galway
LAOIS
Last year’s finish: Fifth W1 L4
Manager: Eddie Brennan
Player watch: Aaron Dunphy – The Borris-Kilcotton player returns after missing last season.
FIXTURES
27 January: Galway v Laois
3 February: Laois v Waterford
16 February: Laois v Offaly
24 February: Carlow v Laois
3 March: Dublin v Laois
OFFALY
Last year’s finish: Third W2 L3
Manager: Kevin Martin
Player to watch: James Gorman – The Kilcormac-Killoughey player will be looking to make an impact at full-forward.
FIXTURES
26 January: Waterford v Offaly
3 February: Offaly v Dublin
16 February: Offaly v Dublin
24 February: Offaly v Galway
3 March: Carlow v Offaly
WATERFORD
Last year’s finish: Relegated from 1A
Manager: Paraic Fanning
Player to watch: Conor Prunty – Solid performances at U21 level sees Prunty in line to nail down a place in the Deise defence.
FIXTURES
27 January: Waterford v Galway
3 February: Laois v Waterford
16 February: Waterford v Carlow
24 February: Dublin v Waterford
3 March: Waterford v Galway
CARLOW
Last year’s finish: Division 2A champions
Manager: Colm Bonnar
Player watch: Martin Kavanagh – A member of the squad since 2012, Kavanagh’s scoring prowess will be vital if Carlow are to survive.
FIXTURES
26 January: Dublin v Carlow
3 February: Carlow v Galway
16 February: Waterford v Carlow
24 February: Carlow v Laois
3 March: Carlow v Offaly
