FORMER captain Declan Lynch has complete faith in the county executive finding the right man to succeed the outgoing Enda McGinley – but remained coy on his own inter-county future.
With the prospect of Casement Park being redeveloped, the county board and the various fundraising wings of Antrim GAA raising standards to an unprecedented level, the managerial vacancy will be a highly sought-after post.
“I think it is an attractive job,” Lynch said.
“Probably when we were in Division Four it was a wee bit more attractive. You’re still managing a big county in terms of population and talent. A few years ago we should have beaten Cavan under Lenny [Harbinson].
“And they went on to win Ulster. I’m not saying we’re at that stage but we were competitive against Armagh in last year’s Championship for 45 minutes. So I still feel it’s attractive for someone who is young and wants to cut their teeth in county management or someone who feels they have a point to prove.
“The county board, led by Ciaran McCavana, are very ambitious. I’m sure they’re looking at the hurlers and thinking how can they get the footballers up to a similar standard. I’ve no doubt they’re looking far and wide for the right candidate.
“And I firmly believe we have the players in the county.
“There’s a really good group of young players coming through. I don’t know what Mick McCann is doing next year but he owes the county nothing. He had a really good campaign this year.
“If he’s there next year, he’s definitely good enough. You’ve also players maybe wanting to prove a point next year as well.
“Pat Shivers stepped up in the second half against Leitrim and showed his ability. You’ve Conor Stewart, Paddy McAleer. I really do think there’s a strong group there, you just need to add a couple and see who’s going to hang about.”
During his own Antrim career, the 30-year-old defender has played under five different management teams. Whether he plays under a sixth is open to debate, but Lynch was non-committal over his inter-county future.
“Hopefully I’ll have a good campaign with my club and if I pick up form it’s up to the new manager. But the new manager might come in and say he wants to go with a load of young players and that’s absolutely fine.
“I’m not going to say I’m done. If I say: ‘I’m playing county football next year’, the new manager might say: ‘I’ve something to tell you…’ (laughing)
“We’ll see what happens.”
Right now, Lynch is playing both football and hurling for his club and is also delighted to see the green light eventually given to the redevelopment of Casement Park.
A policy adviser with Sinn Fein, Lynch said: “It’s been a long time coming. It’s a New Decade, New Approach commitment.
"I can’t see how any party can object to it. Everyone has signed up to the redevelopment of Casement Park and the GAA are committed to it and have ensured that it will be delivered. It’ll not just be a massive boost to Gaels but a massive boost to the economy.
“It could have fizzled out very easily but there have been people that have driven it on. The amount of meetings we’ve had with DFI [Department of Infrastructure] and Ulster GAA just ensuring it was their constant focus, I think is testament to those involved that we're now seeing progression. Hopefully I’ll still be playing a bit of club football when it’s built – maybe an over 35s match! I’ll make sure I get on it one way or the other!"
