Derek McGrath tips Davy Fitzgerald to make instant impact with Antrim hurlers
Derek McGrath has tipped Davy Fitzgerald and Antrim to take the hurling Championship by storm and turn the Saffrons into the sport’s underdog story of 2025.
McGrath, Waterford’s manager when they reached the 2017 All-Ireland final, has been a long-term fan of Fitzy’s methods, watching him land the Deise a Munster title in his first spell, before guiding Clare to the 2013 All-Ireland and Wexford to the 2019 Leinster.
Now he has his sights on the biggest underdog story of all – seeing if he can propel Ulster outsiders Antrim to their greatest season in 24 years. For a brief spell between 1988 and 1991, Antrim were fiercely competitive in the All-Ireland series, reaching the 1989 final, running Kilkenny to two points in the 1991 semis.
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But since then success has been limited. There was a Championship win over Dublin in Anthony Daly’s second season and a win over Wexford last year. But that’s where the story ends rather than starts.
Now McGrath, one of hurling’s most astute observers, believes the marriage between hurling zealot Fitzgerald and an underachieving county can lead to great things.
McGrath said: “For Antrim to be successful, they need buy-in. And I am guessing Davy’s positivity, standing, charisma will ensure that the vast majority of players in the county will get on board.
“You need that. You can’t expect a manager to make a breakthrough if certain players have not made themselves available.
“But I think Davy will get those players on board and once that happens he will have a Leinster final within his sights.
“Remember Antrim beat Wexford last year; Wexford then drew with Dublin; Dublin made the Leinster decider.
“Davy will convince the Antrim lads they have what it takes to be in the mix for a place in the provincial final. No doubt about that.”
And he’ll do so by exuding an unshakeable self-belief in the team in private and then playing the underdog card in public.
McGrath says: “He likes to create a siege mentality. His philosophy is similar wherever he goes. He plays things down. He’ll say things like ‘we have a long way to go but we are making progress’.
“That keeps a lid on expectations. But behind the scenes he is brimful of confidence. Davy’s self-belief is enormous.
“He backs himself and rightly so because he is very good at what he does. He is so good at coaching because of his high hurling intellect. He is brilliant at getting the best out of teams.”
That has been proven time after time.With Waterford, in his first spell, he took a team that was hammered by Clare in the Munster Championship through to that year’s All-Ireland
final, their first since 1963. After adding a Munster title, he then moved home to Clare, winning an All-Ireland, just the fourth in the Banner’s history. Next came Wexford and
their first Leinster title in 15 years. And then it was Waterford again, where no trophies came.
But McGrath says: “He did a better job than people are giving him credit for.
“Waterford were fierce unlucky not to make it out of Munster last summer.
“So, I’d be very positive about his chances with Antrim. Not just because I hold Davy in high regard, but also because it is a big hurling county.
“He’ll foster unity and by building a backroom staff of Antrim greats, he is showing that he is up there for all the right reasons.
“By working closely with the Under 20s, buy-in will be there, inside and outside the camp.
“It also helps that Darren Gleeson (Fitzy’s predecessor) did an excellent job. That gives Davy a platform to work from. And if he makes Antrim successful, then the implications for hurling will be huge.”
That’s because it is such a tiny pool, five strong teams existing in Munster, four in Leinster.
The addition of another consistent operator at the sport’s top table would be a massive boost for the game.
McGrath said: “If there was sustained success, you could reach a point where you could even consider tinkering with the structure of the Championship.
“You might even consider relegation and promotion... consider eight teams in the quarter-finals.
“That’s another day’s work. I tell you what, though, if Davy does do the business in Antrim, it’ll make the new director of hurling’s job a whole lot easier right away.”
And can success happen?
“I don’t see why not,” said McGrath.
“He is a very good manager and Antrim have very good hurlers. It will be fascinating
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