Will Davy bring his magic touch to Antrim?

The raft of playing-rule changes in Gaelic football will mean plenty of attention for the opening weekend of the Allianz Football League.

However, it’s worth remembering that there is a not insignificant alteration to the hurling competition, too.

Since 2020, the top tier had featured 12 teams dispersed across Divisions 1A and 1B, with the top two in each progressing to the semi-finals.

Now, though, while the highest level is still Division 1A, there is a clearer delineation as that features the top seven teams based on last year’s rankings, with Division 1B a mezzanine level for those looking push upwards.

Waterford and Dublin are the sharks in the tank there but a tighter spread of quality should mean a more competitive section for all, rather than mid-level teams being subjected to heavy losses by the top sides.

Among those seeking to make an impression in Division 1B are Antrim, for whom this year represents another seismic change as new manager Davy Fitzgerald puts his stamp on things.

For the past two seasons, the Saffrons have finished fifth in the Leinster SHC, with the 2024 campaign including wins over Wexford and Carlow.

They open their league campaign against Dublin in Croke Park on Saturday evening (5.15pm). Former Antrim player and manager Terence ‘Sambo’ McNaughton believes that the new league structure can help to act as a springboard to keep the championship graph pointing upwards.

“I think that, if you’re going well, it’s a perfect league to build up towards championship,” he says.

“You should be coming out of this league full of confidence, ready to give the championship a real rattle.

“It’s a good game to start off, Dublin away, that’ll tell you where you’re at.

“I know it’s early days but Davy brings a bit of hype with him and we’ll see how we go. I know the guys are training very hard – every team that Davy has does that – and we’re all looking forward to seeing it.”

Fitzgerald is a magnet-like character who draws interest wherever he goes. To date, his managerial career has included an All-Ireland win with his native Clare as well as taking Waterford to a final and winning the Leinster title with Wexford. He also had a stint as Cork camogie coach in 2022, when the county lost narrowly to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

Gold dust

The hope in the Glens is that he can now sprinkle some gold dust on them, even if 1991 All-Star McNaughton is relieved that he never had to endure the tough physical regimen that the Clareman demands.

“We’re glad to have Davy and he creates a bit of hype around the place, a bit of excitement,” he says.

“I’ve talked to a few of the players and, going by the level of training they’re doing, I’m glad he wasn’t around in my day, put it like that!

“I think Davy’s trying to make sure that whatever chance Antrim have of catching a team is maximised.

“I would say that we’re probably going to be one of the fittest teams in the country and rightly so.

“Success for us would be to beat Dublin and Wexford, try and catch those two teams that are ahead of us.”

Of course, there are challenges in terms of trying to push on. While Neil McManus, who retired in 2023, was appointed as the team’s performance coach by Fitzgerald upon his appointment, there had been a push to get him back playing but that will not be happening, while another key attacker, Conal ‘Coby’ Cunning, is out with a cruciate ligament injury.

Manpower

A lack of manpower is something that McNaughton - who was joint manager of the Ireland team for last year’s hurling/shinty international against Scotland - cites as a big drawback for Antrim.

“The biggest problem I see facing Davy is that we don’t have ready replacements for the likes of Neil McManus or Coby,” he says.

“More often than not, we don’t replace like with like and that would be my worry – we don’t have the same strength in depth as the top counties do.

“We have what we have, and we have to make do with what we have. We don’t have the huge numbers of other counties playing the game.

“Whenever you lose a Neil McManus or a Coby, it’s tough – they’re probably the two best forwards in Antrim at the minute.”

Even so, it’s a time of year when optimism is rife, not just in Antrim but around the country. The opening round of the league presents a chance to lay down a marker and McNaughton is excited for what lies ahead.

“I’ll be looking forward to heading to Croke Park on Saturday night,” he says. “Hopefully it goes well.

Sambo says there are big expectations at the start of the year, especially with new managers in Galway, Dublin and Waterford too.

“All those teams will be looking to start well, Cork has to do something this year, Limerick are looking to get their crown back – it’s an exciting year to look at.

“We’re looking at everybody with interest and I’m looking forward to it all.”