New Erin's Own manager aiming high

ERIN’S OWN’S new premier senior hurling manager Martin Buckley has big shoes to fill as he replaces the vastly experienced Martin Bowen at the helm who had a total of 16 years in charge between 1997 and 2023.

Buckley is very familiar with the players having been involved with the clubs U21 hurlers in the past and the new boss is looking forward to getting stuck in.

“It’s a huge honour to be the new manager, it really is, especially taking over from a man like Martin Bowen,” says Buckley.

“I was a selector this year and when Martin stepped down in October my name popped up and I just decided to go for it. I suppose you would always have doubts but I think it’s a big opportunity for myself. I made my debut for the first team back in 1995 and I think since then there have only been something like five managers in charge of the first team, so it’s a privilege to be now at the helm. It’s a big challenge, the premier senior grade is very difficult, there’s nowhere to hide.” 

The new boss is a well-known figure around the club having played with the first team and helped Erin’s Own win the top flight hurling championship back in 2006.

“I have been involved with Erin’s Own all my life. I would like to think I know the place inside out. Winning the county in 2006 was special. I know the current team from my time with the U21s. Being on the sideline with Martin Bowen this year will help me big time, I learnt so much from him in such a short space of time. He put so much work into it and I want to drive it on now. Myself and Martin are great friends and If I want anything he will be there for me.” 

Buckley has a strong management team with him for the 2024 season which includes the new coach, Seán Daly, who played for the Waterford senior hurlers from 1993 to 1998 and was involved with the Kilworth premier intermediate hurlers over the last few seasons.

“I am the figurehead, but getting the right people around me was the most important thing really. Mickey Wallace who was also a selector under Martin Bowen will be with me next season, Peter Kelly and Paul Fenton will also be part of the management set-up. Peter and Paul were on the team when we won back-to-back counties in 2006 and 2007 so again they know the club and the players. The coach will be Seán Daly, the Growler as he is better known as. He was a brilliant hurler, he was on the Waterford team of the decade. He is an outstanding coach, a real motivator, you saw the job he did with Kilworth, they were unlucky to lose to Castlelyons in the final this season. Will Twomey from Kilworth will be the strength and conditioning coach.

“I am delighted with the lads that I have assembled and that’s the main thing. It’s all about getting the right people with you and it took a bit of time but I am really happy now that everything is finalised.” 

Normally when a new manager is appointed they take the easy option and say it’s all about having patience and that the team will be going through a transition period, but Buckley isn’t beating around the bush.

“The goal next year is simple, win the county. We reached the semi-final in 2022, this year was a case of very fine margins, we could have reached the knockout stages very easily, now we could have ended up in the relegation play-off as well. People can say we are after a bad year or whatever but eight players made their debuts for the first team in 2023, five of them in the championship. All in all, it was a successful season. So this year was a transition campaign and we want to push on in 2024.

“We are not in this just to survive, we are in it to win the county. That’s the gist of it. I know I might sound positive but that’s just who I am.”