DAVY Fitzgerald says he won’t fool the Antrim hurling public by “building sandcastles in the sky” – but insists the Saffrons aren’t travelling to face Dublin on Saturday night to make up the numbers in the new-look Division 1B.
The legendary Clare goalkeeper was persuaded to put his planned sabbatical from the sidelines on hold when Antrim officials came calling for his services last August.
Fitzgerald had stepped away from the Waterford post but never imagined embracing arguably the greatest managerial challenge of his career so soon afterwards.
He won two All-Irelands as Clare goalkeeper – in 1995 and ‘97 – and claimed the Liam MacCarthy as Banner manager in 2013.
He also guided Waterford (2010) and Wexford (2019) to provincial successes during his time on the sidelines.
Despite his weighty reputation, the charismatic Sixmilebridge man isn’t promising the moon and the stars to Antrim.
He’s urged patience as he goes about changing aspects of the team’s style of play – but he is quick to add that doesn’t mean Antrim can’t be competitive in their daunting NHL opener against the Dubs in Croke Park this weekend.
“Of course, you tell the players they’ve a chance of winning every game they play,” Fitzgerald said.
“We’re going to try to win every game but I’m not going to build sandcastles in the sky – people can do that if they want.
“Have we a chance of winning on Saturday night? Yes, we have a chance. If I didn’t believe that there’s no point in going. But we’re certainly not the finished product.”
The new Antrim hurling manager has identified around five areas of Antrim’s play that he wants to change.
“We’re doing well in patches. This is what you’re going to see in the National League - patches…
“Anybody looking from the outside will be thinking, ‘This is an easy enough one for Dublin.’
“I think we’ll give it a good go. The whole thing will boil down to the first 20 minutes. Dublin are going to come at us with an unbelievable intensity. You can see that in their challenge games.
“We just have to meet that intensity.”
Antrim are already without one of their most consistent forwards, Conal Cunning (cruciate), for the entire season while his Dunloy team-mates Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy are only back after injuries and are unlikely to start against Dublin.
Loughgiel’s Paul Boyle is also not long back from a spell on the sidelines.
Fitzgerald takes over from Darren Gleeson who the Clare man praised for his body of work across five seasons in Antrim which began in the lowly environs of Division 2A back in 2020 before winning promotion to Division One and staying there.
“My job this year is to keep us in the League and keep us in the Liam MacCarthy - that would be a very good year for me. The objective then the following year is to build on that.”
Fitzgerald has always had a deep affinity with Antrim hurling and at one time enjoyed a behind-the-scenes coaching stint with their U21s.
“My problem with Antrim when they went away from home – there was always going to be a large margin against them,” he said.
“We’ve to try and get rid of that. That’s honestly where we’re coming from. I’ve said it many times – Darren [Gleeson] did a great job.
“This is where I am, and I want to bring them another step if I can. Can we be competitive away from home? Can we close those gaps? If we be competitive and be there or thereabouts in all the League games, then great.”
