DARREN Gleeson’s departure from Antrim yesterday took nobody by surprise after having spent five seasons raising standards in the county.
After preserving Antrim’s Leinster SHC status with a gutsy win over Carlow in May, the Tipperary man hinted in his post-match briefing that he might have reached the end of the road with the Ulstermen.
“It’s easy for me to say, ‘job done’, but I need to give it the right thought,” Gleeson said at the time. “I have to see what’s going on in my own life as well.”
Less than two months later, the 43-year-old confirmed the news that he wouldn’t be seeking a sixth season in charge.
The arduous trek from his home in Portroe, Co Tipperary several times per week was undoubtedly a major factor in his decision to step away – but his last season in charge was also wrought with absenteeism and injuries.
In March, Antrim travelled to Westmeath for a Division 1B game with just 21 players – but with more key players available for the start of the Leinster SHC series, they competed well at Corrigan Park and pulled off a brilliant win over Wexford – arguably the highlight of Gleeson’s reign.
He navigated the team supremely well through the COVID pandemic, delivering two Joe McDonagh titles [2020 and 2022] and kept Antrim in Division One after winning promotion in his first year in charge [2020].
Arguably his greatest feat as Antrim boss was making many of the senior squad realise their potential and, in doing so, raised expectations among them.
That remains the case as the current crop of players ponder 2025.
At the end of the season, defender Paddy Burke commented: “I’ve said it from the very start, the professionalism Darren’s brought has given us the platform to be able to show what we’re capable of doing and obviously we’ve all improved as hurlers and our fitness and our physicality with the help of Brendan Murphy [S&C coach].
“We want for nothing, really.”
In a heartfelt statement, Gleeson thanked his family, his backroom team, the county board, underage management squads, the clubs, sponsors and the players themselves for making his time in Antrim such a memorable one.
“When I first made the journey in the spring of 2018 to help with a few sessions, little did I think that I would still be there in 2024,” Gleeson said.
“To the loyal Antrim hurling public, I look forward to meeting you around the playing pitches of Ireland as you continue to support this great county of yours and I continue my hurling journey.”
With that parting sentiment, it would appear the 2010 All-Ireland winning Tipperary ‘keeper will seek out other coaching opportunities, and probably ones closer to home.
One source yesterday said Gleeson had been “absolutely brilliant for Antrim – and Antrim were absolutely brilliant for him”.
In a statement, the county board generously lauded Gleeson’s contribution over the last five years, describing it as a “transformative period” and thanked him for setting “new levels of excellence instilled in our players and our entire organisation.”
The ripple-effect of Gleeson’s work in Antrim was acknowledged by Down senior hurling boss Ronan Sheehan who yesterday wrote on social media: ‘[Darren] did an excellent job… Will be missed, not just in Antrim but across Ulster as the rising tide always lifted all boats.’