ANTRIM are on the look-out for a new senior hurling manager after Darren Gleeson yesterday announced he was stepping down after five years at the helm – with Ballycastle man Michael McShane being touted as a possible successor to the Tipperary native.
Big hitters Davy Fitzgerald and Henry Shefflin have connections with Antrim hurling over the years and could possibly be sounded out over their availability – but the county board may still opt to appoint a new manager from within.
Clare native Fitzgerald recently stepped down as Waterford manager after two years, while Shefflin quit the Galway post after three seasons.
McShane, though, has accrued a wealth of experience with the Slaughtneil and Tyrone hurlers – and double-jobbed for three of those years [2021 to 2023] before stepping away from the sidelines.
It remains to be seen if any of Gleeson’s backroom staff would be interested in being promoted to the vacant role or whether they would be interested in continuing in their current role to assist the new man.
Johnny Campbell, a hugely respected figure in hurling circles, had a managerial spell with his native Loughgiel Shamrocks before being recruited by Gleeson as part of his backroom team a few seasons ago.
The Antrim senior manager’s post is undoubtedly an attractive one as they’ll be competing in the Leinster SHC in 2025 and are in a rejigged Division 1B section.
During Gleeson’s reign, the county board invested heavily in the Dunsilly site in Antrim town where they have two pitches, floodlights, a new state-of-the-art gym and appear to have all the infrastructure of an elite set-up.
Gleeson leaves Antrim hurling in a much better state than he found it and delivered some memorable days with the team, particularly their Championship victory over Wexford at Corrigan Park in April.
He won two Joe McDonagh Cups and preserved Antrim’s Division One status after gaining promotion at the end of his first season in charge (2020).