Matthew Fitzpatrick is quietly confident that Antrim can gain promotion from Division 4 of the Allianz Football League.

The Saffrons were relegated after just one season in Division 3 last year, but have their sights set on bouncing back.

"Our main goal is to win Division 4. We need to get out of Division 4 but we're there for a reason," the St. John's attacker told the Irish News.

"The way the year has been going and the way we're continuing to improve, we hope we can get out of the the division and then we can look forward to Down in the Ulster championship. We're playing them on a Saturday night in May - that's why you're playing Gaelic - for games like that."

Fitzpatrick is also hopeful that new manager Lenny Harbinson's new kick-out strategy will reap dividends.

"Lenny's set-up is very professional and his backroom team are very good. Lenny wants us to be thinking footballers to improve every time we go out. That's what I like about him," he continued.

"If we can win 65 or 70 per cent of our kick-outs that could be the difference in games. When you get relegated by a single score as we did last year, winning an extra three kick-outs per match could be the difference in winning a match.

"Lenny is such a deep thinker, that's the way he would be approaching things - you relieve pressure by winning your kick-outs and controlling the game. So I'm optimistic about this season."

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