Fitzgerald parts ways with Antrim after two years

Image source, Inpho

• Published4 hours ago

Davy Fitzgerald's tenure as Antrim manager is over following the Saffrons' exit from the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Following the departure of Darren Gleeson in 2024, the Clare man took the job on a two-year term with the option of third, but BBC Sport NI can confirm the Sixmilebridge man has opted to step down.

His tenure ended today and although Fitzgerald declined to comment after Sunday's final round Joe McDonagh Cup win at home to Carlow, he told the Antrim squad after the match that he is stepping away with immediate effect, citing a breakdown of trust with some members of the county board.

Antrim – who lost their opening McDonagh Cup fixtures to Down and Laois – bounced back with a hat-trick of victories over London, Westmeath and Carlow.

Relations between Fitzgerald and the Antrim county board had been under considerable strain as a result of the fallout following last month's defeat by Laois, which saw Antrim GAA release a statement denying that the Clare man had been dismissed and then reinstated as senior hurling manager following concerns being raised by the squad.

A former All-Ireland winner as a player and manager with his native county, Fitzgerald is the most high-profile manager to take the reins of Antrim hurling.

After All-Ireland wins as goalkeeper with Clare in 1995 and 1997, Fitzgerald's first foray into management came in 2008 with Waterford, leading the Deise to that year's All-Ireland final and a Munster title two years later.

He has been involved with an inter-county team since, guiding Clare to All-Ireland glory in 2013 and then moving onto Wexford where he delivered a Leinster title in 2019.

Following spells as Cork camogie coach and a return to management with Waterford, he moved north to manage Antrim.

• Antrim and Down miss out on McDonagh Cup final

  • Published5 hours ago

Fitzgerald's first season saw Antrim record two league wins to remain in 1B, but they were relegated from Leinster after five defeats - the last of those a de facto playoff when they lost by five points to Offaly after playing the majority of the game with 14 men.

Antrim entered this season with hopes of bouncing back, but in their league opener, a last-gasp goal by Wexford goalkeeper Mark Fanning saw them come up empty handed.

A league win over Carlow - their only victory of the campaign - was enough to keep them up on scoring difference despite a final day defeat by Down.

Ronan Sheehan's men repeated the trick in the opening round of the Joe McDonagh Cup in Dunloy with a defeat by Laois seven days later leaving any hopes of reaching the final hanging by a thread.

Despite a run of three wins since, Antrim missed out on a place in the final with Fitzgerald ending his time with the Saffrons.

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