The newly appointed Antrim boss, Davy Fitzgerald, has revealed that the reason he took the job is because he believes there is untapped potential in Antrim hurling.
The Clare native agreed to become the new senior hurling manager for the county this week after talks with the Antrim County Board. He will take charge of the team for a two-year term, with the option of a third.
Fitzgerald, who stepped down as Waterford manager last month, admitted that he was happy to take a break from the game, but the "project" that was the Antrim job gave him second thoughts, and this is why he ended up taking the role in the end.
“I was happy to take the breather,” he said. “I said the only thing was that if something interested me that I’d like to do, if a project came up that I’d like to do, something different, and this is a bit different.
“I’ve been going up to Antrim for a long time, the bones of twenty-something years, and I’ve often given a handout. I’ve seen their passion for hurling, and that’s for sure, but I just believe there’s more there."
Antrim County Committee this evening officially appointed Davy Fitzgerald as Senior Hurling team Manager on a two year term, with the option of a third year.
We wish Davy the very best and look forward to working with him and his team #WelcomeDavy
➡️ https://t.co/Ct0vzbQ1a6 pic.twitter.com/YMORTFctg4— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) August 12, 2024
Fitzgerald added that the passion the chairman, Seamus McMullan, and the Antrim team showed in the talks also played a big part in his arrival at Corrigan Park.
“I suppose it’s something completely different. As I said, I was genuinely okay. The first number of weeks after I left Waterford, I was actually happy. I was happy not to be doing anything.
“It was the first time I had a summer where I didn’t have to do anything for a number of weeks. Normally, if I’m with a county, I’d be pre-planning very early.
“It was the first time I didn’t have to pre-plan, and I didn’t think I’d be doing anything, but the enthusiasm shown by the chairman and the people that came from Antrim to meet me was incredible.”
The Liam McCarthy Cup has been won by the likes of Clare, Limerick, and Kilkenny over the years, so everyone else is playing catchup or hoping they can achieve something similar.
Antrim, however, has never won the Liam McCarthy Cup and has only contested two All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, in 1943 and 1989.
Fitzgerald laid out his expectations for the season ahead. The Clareman expects a top-three finish in Leinster and a spot in the All-Ireland series.
“I think that has to be a realistic goal. That’s what you’d like to do: get out and get to the knockout stages," he added.
“I’d like to imagine that we would be very, very competitive. Antrim’s away form has to be way more consistent. They’ve shipped big beatings away, and if we can bring some of the home form they showed away, then they’ll be a challenge for anyone."
