Who could Antrim turn to after McEntee exit?
Following Andy McEntee's departure after three years at the helm with Antrim's senior footballers, the search for a new manager begins.Next year, the Saffrons will ly their trade in Division Four of the National League and the objective for the Meath man's successor is to navigate a return to the third tier.With the club leagues drawing to a conclusion in Antrim and the county championship just a matter of weeks away, the ideal scenario would be to have a new manager appointed sooner rather than later.Dermot McAleese, captain in 2025, is the only confirmed retirement from this season's panel, although there may be others mulling over their future, while the new manager will of course have their own ideas in terms of personnel.There is no obvious candidate to succeed McEntee at present, but speculation will now begin as to whom that may be.Current Cargin manager Ronan Devlin has been with the Toome club since the start of the 2018 season, initially as a coach under Damien Cassidy when they delivered a three-in-a-row in Antrim from 2018-2020. Following Cassidy's departure after the 2021 campaign, the Ballinderry native took the reins and has delivered another hat-trick of county titles, but would he be tempted by the inter-county scene?Former Antrim player Kevin Madden is another who will be linked. The Portglenone man has been a coach under Damien Cassidy in Derry and also under Mickey Harte in Tyrone, while helping deliver a Derry county title for Glenullin. Madden has also managerial experience with Creggan in Antrim, Swatragh in Derry and currently with Clonoe in Tyrone, but may feel the time is right to answer his county's call.Another Portglenone man and current manager of his home club, John McKeever, will also be linked due to his track record of success at school and club level, most notably with Fr Rock's, Cookstown, whom he led to an All-Ireland Intermediate title and last year, brought his native Casement's to the Antrim county final for the first time in 15 years.But Antrim may look outside the county once again with current Aghagallon boss Pete McGrath, who brought the Sam Maguire to his native Down in 1991 and '94, or Tony McEntee, who stepped down as Sligo manager after five years following defeat to Fermanagh in the Tailteann Cup, may also be tempted.
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