Fitzgerald excited by ‘potential’ within Antrim

New Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald says he will “try everything” to bring the county back to the top of the game.

Fitzgerald, an All-Ireland winner as both a player and manager with his native Clare, was confirmed as Darren Gleeson’s successor on Monday evening.

The Saffrons last reached the All-Ireland final in 1989 but Fitzgerald sees “potential” within the group.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” the former goalkeeper told BBC Sport NI.

“Being totally honest, there is a bit of work to be done. I can’t promise we’ll get there, but I’m certainly going to try everything.

“Do I think the potential is there? I do.”

Gleeson was in charge at Corrigan Park for five years, winning two Joe McDonagh Cup titles during his tenure and keeping Antrim in Division One of the Allianz League after securing promotion in 2020.

While noting the “great job” done by the man he replaces, Fitzgerald admitted there will likely need to be “one or two down days” if Antrim are to get to the very top.

“There’s no doubting the passion that all Antrim people have for the game of hurling,” he said.

“I remember the colour of ’89. I was playing with Clare before the All-Ireland semi-final and final. I’d love to help them get back into the top end of that. I can’t promise it, all I can do is certainly try.

“I do think there’ll be one or two down days before there are big days, but hopefully we won’t see too many of those.”

Fitzgerald, who says he did not expect to make an immediate return to intercounty management after leaving Waterford this summer, says he will look up and down the county in preparation, both for players and to assemble his backroom team.

“I’ll look at everything,” he added.

“With me, skill is important, that’s for sure, but there has to be more than that.

“There has to be that absolute fight, that determination, that desire to never give up on the cause.

“There’s a lot of characteristics that I’ll be looking for. I can’t say for sure whether I’ll get something different but we’ll look and explore.”