Neil McManus: Antrim need to learn long-term from Davy Fitzgerald

Neil McManus is hoping that Davy Fitzgerald can have a long-term impact on the fortunes of Antrim hurling, regardless of results.

The Clare man last month made the surprise switch to the Saffrons, for what will be his fourth inter-county hurling management role, after concluding a second spell with Waterford.

Antrim have firmly established themselves in the Leinster championship, finishing with four points this year after beating Wexford, but leaving a team who narrowly missed out on qualification from Munster and subsequently joining the 2022 Joe McDonagh Cup winners raised a few eyebrows.

Expectations will now be high that Fitzgerald, who managed Wexford to a first Leinster title in 15 years in 2019, can build on the work of Darren Gleeson and ignite the spark for hurling in the only Ulster county to have reached an All-Ireland final.

"I think we need to learn as much from Davy as we can," said former Antrim star McManus, who retired after a 16-year career in 2023.

"Davy has won Munster with Waterford, won the All-Ireland with Clare, won Leinster with Wexford, so there's a lot of experience for us to tap into there.

"I don't like to think of success in winning and losing games. I think success should always be long-term. Developing the next generation of coaches and management for Antrim would definitely be one of the successes. Also putting in place a structure underage, that Clare are reaping the benefit from at the minute."

McManus has joined the management team as performance coach, alongside fellow Antrim natives and coaches/selectors Arron Griffin and Paudie Shivers. Waterford's Pat Bennett, father of inter-county players Kieran, Shane and Stephen, is also on board with Fitzgerald, who has a two-year term with an option