ANTRIM’S outgoing hurling boss Darren Gleeson has been ratified for the Laois post.
The All-Ireland-winning former Tipperary goalkeeper left the Saffrons earlier in the summer, with Davy Fitzgerald replacing him.
Gleeson will take over at the Joe McDonagh Cup runners-up after Willie Maher stepped down.
Maher will be a tough act to follow as he led Laois to the Division 2A title this year, earning the right to play in Division One in 2025.
He also led the Poor and Proud to the Joe McDonagh Cup final in 2024, where they were beaten by Offaly at Croke Park.
Laois also made it to the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stage, where they lost to Wexford.
Earlier this season, Gleeson masterminded a memorable Championship victory for Antrim over Wexford but needed a relegation play-off win over Carlow to preserve the county’s Leinster SHC status.
Gleeson retired from inter-county duty with Tipperary after nine years between the posts, winning All-Ireland titles in 2010 and 2016 before retiring in 2017.
