MICHAEL McShane hopes his Antrim U20 panel can tap into the “energy” Davy Fitzgerald’s appointment as senior manager has brought to the county.
The Ballycastle man - who led Sleacht Neill to nine county titles and four Ulster championships during a period of unprecedented success for the Derry club – will work in tandem with the Clare All-Ireland winner as the Saffrons seek to build across the board.
McShane had been nominated for the senior job following Darren Gleeson’s exit but withdrew himself from the running once Fitzgerald’s candidacy was confirmed, before taking up the Antrim U20 post.
And, having steered clear of any involvement since finishing up with Sleacht Neill at the end of last year, McShane can’t wait to get started in his new role.
“I met with Davy and had a really positive conversation with him – I was very impressed with his buy-in to Antrim.
“Obviously his primary job is the senior team and to prepare them for National League and Championship, but he’s taken a genuine interest in what we’re doing at U20.
“We want to be cross-referencing how we set up, how we train, how we play, how we prepare, plus there are four players in the U20 panel who are currently in the senior panel, so we obviously will have conversations about those lads.
“I feel that him coming into Antrim has lifted things – there seems to be a new energy about the place, which is great to see… there’s lots of work that needs to be done at underage, right from U14 up, and the people who are in charge of putting the structures in place, and putting the right structures in place, are working very hard to do that.
“That’s something I’ve seen since the very first conversation I had about getting involved.”
McShane has brought together a quality backroom team, consisting of Ballycastle club-mate Cormac Donnelly, Dunloy duo Shane Elliott and Kevin Martin, and Brian McFall from St John’s. Former Antrim forward Johnny McIntosh will operate as team liaison, with Dr Noel Brick sport psychologist.
However, his eagerness to get going has been tempered by the ban on any training activity at that age grade until January 1.
“That’s already a bit of a bone in my throat.
“We can’t run trials until the first of January, we can’t pick a panel, can’t get them training, organise challenge matches, so we have to do that all before the first championship game, which is on the first of February.
“That gives U20s four weeks from beginning until their first championship match, which is absolutely ridiculous… I just don’t get it.
“Okay, there’s players involved in schools’ competitions like the Mageean Cup, but you have to trust managers to be sensible to work with the schools or colleges’ management and not burn players out.
“We won’t do that, it’s not in our interest, but to just say you can’t do anything until the first of January and then you begin the process… it’s just not doable properly.”
