Fitzgerald close to being confirmed as next Antrim boss

The prospect of Davy Fitzgerald taking charge of the Antrim senior hurlers for 2025 looks set to soon become a reality.

Speculation is mounting that Sixmilebridge native Fitzgerald may be appointed Saffron manager as early as tomorrow night at a county board meeting.

Well-placed sources have told RTÉ Sport that the move, which had been anticipated over the past number of weeks, is now close to being confirmed.

An All-Ireland winning player and manager, Fitzgerald's arrival at Antrim would be huge for the hurling-mad fraternity in the county.

Fitzgerald recently resigned from his role as Waterford hurling manager after two seasons in charge.

The Clare native had another year left on his three-year term but decided to step down.

He was immediately linked to a number of roles.

But following weeks of talks, it looks like he will be heading north.

Fitzgerald previously managed Waterford between 2008 and 2011 and then returned to manage the county following the 2022 season. He guided the team to a Munster title in 2010 in his first spell with them.

Last year, he led them to a Munster SHC win over Tipperary in 2023 and this year they beat Cork at the beginning of the 2024 campaign, narrowly failing to progress from the province this season.

He landed All-Ireland and National League titles for Clare in 2013 and won another league with the Banner in 2016.

When he took charge of Wexford he led them to a Leinster Championship with Wexford in 2019.

Fitzgerald has been consistently involved as an inter-county player, manager or coach every year since 1989.

He was expected to take a first full 'break' from the top flight but now it appears he will be back at the helm of another Liam MacCarthy Cup team – this time in Antrim.

If appointed tomorrow