Derek McGrath believes that the combination of Davy Fitzgerald's coaching and Antrim's hunger for success can lead to a historic season for the Ulster county.
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. 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
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