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Davy Fitzgerald- New Antrim Manager.

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This is a real coup for Antrim hurling. Davy Fitz is now our new senior county hurling manager. Darren Gleeson did an excellent job but it was maybe time for a refocus. While Davy's main job will be as senior county manager, Antrim needs a new plan particularly towards Belfast which remains an untapped source of talent for the county. Hurling has stalled a bit in Antrim and we need something to give it a boost. Davy needs to get into Antrim, particularly Belfast, and polish some of the talent that is undoubtedly there. I wish him well.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9788 - 15/08/2024 16:57:47    2565304

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This is great news for Antrim hurling, if he gets three years at the job I would love to see Antrim pass out Dublin and mabey even Wexford. I wonder what odds Paddy Power would give on Antrim reaching a Leinster final in 3 years time?

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 349 - 15/08/2024 17:37:29    2565313

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They'll be Mc Donagh in 2 years..

Greenandgoldie (Westmeath) - Posts: 154 - 15/08/2024 18:17:18    2565321

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It's a serious catch for Antrim and great for hurling. They could certainly cause a few upsets but it's very very hard to reach a Leinster final.

It involves having to be better than Wexford Dublin and Galway in one season. Offaly will be back next year too and surely trying to stay up on the back of their under 20 success.

I'd expect Leinster to be more competitive than Munster as usual albeit a slightly lower standard.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3198 - 15/08/2024 19:12:07    2565325

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At least he can be closer to home now.....

MLR (Carlow) - Posts: 77 - 15/08/2024 20:20:27    2565332

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "This is great news for Antrim hurling, if he gets three years at the job I would love to see Antrim pass out Dublin and mabey even Wexford. I wonder what odds Paddy Power would give on Antrim reaching a Leinster final in 3 years time?"
Well, they've already beaten Wexford and are nip n tuck with Dublin. Antrim should be aiming to pass out Galway as well. Galway for all the talent in the county, evidenced in all the great club teams that it produces, fail to get it together more often than not at inter-county level. Surpassing Kilkenny is a different kettle of cats altogether!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2102 - 15/08/2024 21:25:20    2565337

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "This is a real coup for Antrim hurling. Davy Fitz is now our new senior county hurling manager. Darren Gleeson did an excellent job but it was maybe time for a refocus. While Davy's main job will be as senior county manager, Antrim needs a new plan particularly towards Belfast which remains an untapped source of talent for the county. Hurling has stalled a bit in Antrim and we need something to give it a boost. Davy needs to get into Antrim, particularly Belfast, and polish some of the talent that is undoubtedly there. I wish him well."
I can see why ye went for him but be prepared for theatrics and controversy.

Glad he is still managing in the Championshio though, I'll get the popcorn ready for next season

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2679 - 15/08/2024 21:43:17    2565343

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "It's a serious catch for Antrim and great for hurling. They could certainly cause a few upsets but it's very very hard to reach a Leinster final.

It involves having to be better than Wexford Dublin and Galway in one season. Offaly will be back next year too and surely trying to stay up on the back of their under 20 success.

I'd expect Leinster to be more competitive than Munster as usual albeit a slightly lower standard."
Tough ask to make a Leinster final ahead of Kilkenny and Galway but in reality Antrim could finish ahead of Wexford and Dublin and take 3rd place, that is a very achievable target.

The hurlers are there in Antrim, it's getting them all in together at one time and pulling in the right direction.

Standard of senior club hurling Antrim is very good.

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 827 - 15/08/2024 22:05:30    2565347

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Well, they've already beaten Wexford and are nip n tuck with Dublin. Antrim should be aiming to pass out Galway as well. Galway for all the talent in the county, evidenced in all the great club teams that it produces, fail to get it together more often than not at inter-county level. Surpassing Kilkenny is a different kettle of cats altogether!"
What is the standard that constitutes 'getting it together'?

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3889 - 15/08/2024 23:14:28    2565358

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Tough ask to make a Leinster final ahead of Kilkenny and Galway but in reality Antrim could finish ahead of Wexford and Dublin and take 3rd place, that is a very achievable target.

The hurlers are there in Antrim, it's getting them all in together at one time and pulling in the right direction.

Standard of senior club hurling Antrim is very good."
Our top 2/3 senior hurling leagues are very good and competitive. There's half a dozen club sides in Antrim that could compete no problem in any other senior county league set up in the country. However it's the same old story at times. Putting the city/rural and rural/rural grudges and bitterness aside and focus on the county when it matters. That has improved in recent times but not nearly as much as it needs to. We also need Casement rebuilt as soon as possible whether it involves the Euros or not. We need a top class stadium.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9788 - 16/08/2024 00:26:40    2565365

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "I can see why ye went for him but be prepared for theatrics and controversy.

Glad he is still managing in the Championshio though, I'll get the popcorn ready for next season"
When it comes to theatrics and controversy Antrim hurling needs no lessons believe me. There's enough infighting, jealousy and bitterness between certain clubs and egomaniacs here at times that Davy will fit right in.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9788 - 16/08/2024 00:29:42    2565367

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Tough ask to make a Leinster final ahead of Kilkenny and Galway but in reality Antrim could finish ahead of Wexford and Dublin and take 3rd place, that is a very achievable target.

The hurlers are there in Antrim, it's getting them all in together at one time and pulling in the right direction.

Standard of senior club hurling Antrim is very good."
Yes I'd agree. I was in Corrigan Park for our game against Antrim and they were a match for Galway that day til the sending off.Even if they only improve 10% next year under new management Galway could well reach a Leinster final at least so there's a pathway for progress there for Antrim too.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1956 - 16/08/2024 01:24:39    2565372

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "I can see why ye went for him but be prepared for theatrics and controversy.

Glad he is still managing in the Championshio though, I'll get the popcorn ready for next season"
I can't understand why he's so unpopular in Clare. He's so pivotal to almost all the success you've had

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3198 - 16/08/2024 08:08:11    2565378

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Replying To Past hurler:  "Tough ask to make a Leinster final ahead of Kilkenny and Galway but in reality Antrim could finish ahead of Wexford and Dublin and take 3rd place, that is a very achievable target.

The hurlers are there in Antrim, it's getting them all in together at one time and pulling in the right direction.

Standard of senior club hurling Antrim is very good."
Galway are far from a permanent fixture in Leinster finals. Only lazy and ill informed pundits say this.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3198 - 16/08/2024 08:09:19    2565379

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Well, they've already beaten Wexford and are nip n tuck with Dublin. Antrim should be aiming to pass out Galway as well. Galway for all the talent in the county, evidenced in all the great club teams that it produces, fail to get it together more often than not at inter-county level. Surpassing Kilkenny is a different kettle of cats altogether!"
They beat Carlow fairly handy, and Carlow drew with Kilkenny. They beat us, and Kilkenny needed a penalty for a foul that was a full 2 yards outside the rectangle to beat us. They beat the current AI champs in a League game only a couple of years ago. They have some very strong club sides and some excellent young players.
If he can spread the game more around Belfast that would be priceless to Antrim though.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14052 - 16/08/2024 08:10:12    2565380

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "What is the standard that constitutes 'getting it together'?"
To be fair to Antrim they're notorious for struggling to get everyone in the panel. I think Davy will bring some sort of success like he does everywhere.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3198 - 16/08/2024 08:10:37    2565382

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I can't understand why he's so unpopular in Clare. He's so pivotal to almost all the success you've had"
Ah I had a big message done up but cant really be bothered. The reasons are well known.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2679 - 16/08/2024 09:35:22    2565396

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I can't understand why he's so unpopular in Clare. He's so pivotal to almost all the success you've had"
Would you take him back to Wexford and if not, why not?

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2679 - 16/08/2024 09:36:39    2565397

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Replying To Ulsterman:  "When it comes to theatrics and controversy Antrim hurling needs no lessons believe me. There's enough infighting, jealousy and bitterness between certain clubs and egomaniacs here at times that Davy will fit right in."
Fair enough.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2679 - 16/08/2024 09:39:23    2565399

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Replying To LohansRedHelmet:  "Would you take him back to Wexford and if not, why not?"
Clare are not going to ever have Davy back, but a lot of people are puzzled by the hostility that some (many even?) Clare people have towards him given that he was as Doyler said central to both the great 90s team and to the winning team in 2013.

As I said on Dublin thread regarding our next parachute job Davy has come to epitomise an increasingly distasteful (in my view) bed hopping particularly in certain counties including Dublin. Which is clearly of no long term or even short term benefit to Dublin at least.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3197 - 16/08/2024 10:05:09    2565402

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