*Davy Fitzgerald. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
DAVY FITZGERALD has been announced as the new manager of the Antrim senior hurlers.
On Monday evening, Fitzgerald was appointed as Antrim manager for a two year term with the option of a third season.
He succeeds another former inter-county goalkeeper, Tipperary’s Darren Gleeson who stepped down after five years in charge. During his tenure, they won the Joe McDonagh Cup and National Hurling League Division 2A, both in 2020 while a year later he was in charge when they defeated Clare in the opening round of the National Hurling League. They won the Joe McDonagh again in 2022 with Gleeson keeping them in the All-Ireland SHC in 2023 and 2024.
Sixmilebridge’s Davy is understood to have also held talks with Laois among other counties but officials in Antrim were very keen from the outset to get him involved. The resignation of Micheál Donoghue as Dublin boss appeared to have opened another possible avenue for Fitzgerald but instead he will be heading North.
It will be the fourth county he has managed at senior inter-county level following two stints with Waterford, a five year spell in charge of his native Clare and another five years over Wexford.
Antrim’s county committee endorsed the recommendation put to the executive for Davy to take charge of the Saffrons.
Séamus McMullan, Chairperson of Antrim GAA stated, “we’re delighted to announce the appointment of Davy Fitzgerald. Davy brings a wealth of experience to the role. His vision, drive and determination is a perfect fit with the ambition of our playing panel. We are confident, too, that Davy will bring the very best out of the emerging hurling talent that is present within our County. We are committed to further developing our underage structures in Antrim and welcome Davy’s interest in contributing to that – that is an exciting prospect for our young hurlers and their clubs. On behalf of the clubs of Antrim, we wish Davy the very best and look forward to working with him and his team”.
Details on Fitzgerald’s management team will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Since 1989, he has been consistently involved as an inter-county player, manager or coach every year. He won two All-Ireland SHC as a player with the Ger Loughnane managed Clare side in 1995 and 1997, winning All Star awards in 1995, 2002 and 2005.
His senior hurling inter-county management career began with Waterford when he took over following Justin McCarthy’s resignation. During the first spell with the Déise from 2008 to 2011, they reached the All-Ireland final in 2008 but were beaten 3-30 1-13 by Kilkenny while they won the Munster championship in 2010.
He returned to Waterford last year on a three year term, they defeated Tipperary in the Munster SHC in 2023 and overcame Cork in this year’s first round but a draw with Liam Cahill’s Tipperary proved costly in their bid to get out of the province.
As Clare manager, Fitzgerald led the county to win the All-Ireland SHC in 2013, the county’s first in sixteen years. Clare were also crowned Allianz NHL champions in 2016, his final year in charge.
With Wexford, the Model County won their first Leinster SHC in fifteen years when they defeated Galway in the 2019 decider, they were defeated in the All-Ireland SHC semi-final that season by Tipperary.
