DARREN Gleeson has stepped down as Antrim senior hurling manager after five years in charge.
The Tipperary native’s decision today comes as no great surprise as it was generally felt he’d taken the current group of players as far as he could.
Throughout his time, Gleeson raised standards and once they gained NHL promotion in 2020, they kept their place in Division One for four consecutive years.
Gleeson won two Joe McDonagh Cups and took the Antrim reins at the most difficult time – during the COVID pandemic.
The 2010 All-Ireland winning goalkeeper with Tipp was introduced to Antrim hurling through his clubman Liam Sheedy and a couple of training sessions slowly morphed into being part of Neal Peden’s backroom team in 2019 before agreeing to manage the seniors.
The Leinster SHC round robin was a hugely challenging arena for Antrim – going desperately close on a number of notable occasions to taking a big scalp.
Earlier this season, Gleeson masterminded a memorable Championship victory over Wexford but needed a relegation play-off win over Carlow to preserve their Leinster SHC status.
Attention will soon turn to his successor with Ballycastle man Michael McShane a possible target of the Antrim County Board given his sterling work with the Slaughtneil and Tyrone hurlers in recent seasons.
Here’s Darren Gleeson’s statement in full:
“This morning my tenure as Antrim Senior Hurling Manager has come to an end. It is a position that I have held with the upmost pride since the Autumn of 2019.
“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.
“For this to have happened there are a lot of people I need to thank. To Naoibh, Caoimhe, Sean and Padraic, Mam and Dad, Flan and Una and our families, I thank you for your unwavering support during my tenure. The journey would not have been possible without you and our friends.
“To the Antrim County Board that appointed me, Neal Peden who gave me the opportunity and Gary O’Kane who made that first phone call, I thank you and will be forever grateful. To the Board and their officers that I have worked with, I thank you for your support.
“To the backroom team, your professionalism, knowledge and desire to improve Antrim hurling has been a joy to lead and I thank you for all you have done. Too many to name, but your dedication has helped raise the tide of Antrim hurling.
“To my management team of Johnny Campbell, Gary O’Kane, Jim Close, Clinton Hennessey and Justin McCormick, I thank you for your support, loyalty and friendship. What you have given to help raise the standards of Antrim hurling has been incredible. Your families, clubs and county should be so proud of your efforts.
“To the players of Antrim who set out with the goal of putting Antrim back to the top table of inter-county hurling, we have achieved that through your hard work, dedication and commitment.
“From day one we have been an extremely ambitious group who have taken great pride in representing Antrim, backed by your clubs and families and I know how proud they are of you and your achievements.
“Winning two Joe McDonaghs Cups in 2020 and 2022, winning the National Hurling League Division Two in 2020, and being ever present in Division One since, and with Antrim’s place in the 2025 LHSC secured, a huge opportunity lies ahead for this group and I wish you well.
“I would like to thank the following supporters and sponsors of Antrim, Dominic Kearns and Fibrus, Tony Shivers and Premier Electrics, Tony and Declan Donnelly and Northern Property, Creagh Concrete and the McKeague Family and FonaCab for their support to me and Antrim GAA.
“To Tony Shivers, your ambition, drive and passion for Antrim GAA has been paramount in our success. I thank you for all you have done and your friendship. To you and your committee at the Saffron Business Forum, your work has been transformative for Antrim, and I wish you well for the future.
“To the committees and supporters of Club Aontroma and Casement Park Social Club, I thank you for backing this wonderful team at every opportunity.
“To the clubs of Antrim, thank you for nurturing and supplying the players to the county. You should be immensely proud of them and what they have achieved to date. For the Minor and U20 management teams, who are working so hard to bring the county forward, I thank you for your support and co-operation during my tenure.
“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.”
Antrim chairman Séamus McMullan acknowledged Darren’s contribution.
“We express our sincere gratitude to Darren for his unwavering dedication, passion, and hard work. His commitment has not only brought success on the field but also inspired a renewed sense of pride and optimism within Antrim GAA and its hurling community in particular.
“Darren’s tenure has marked a transformative period for Antrim hurling and we are deeply thankful to him and his management team for the new levels of excellence they have instilled in our players and our entire organisation.
“We wish Darren and his family all the best in the future and look forward to building on the solid foundation he has laid for Antrim hurling.”