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BBC News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
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 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 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 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 is no obvious candidate to succeed McEntee at present, but speculation will now begin as to whom that may 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 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 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Antrim boss Andy McEntee departs role after three years
Andy McEntee has departed his role as Antrim Football boss after a three year spell, the County Board has confirmed. Taking over in the summer of 2022, McEntee guided the Saffrons to successive Tailteann Cup semi-finals in 2023 and 2024 as well as safety in the third tier of the National League. However, 2024 proved to be a tough year for the county, who were relegated to Division Four and lost in the Tailteann Cup Preliminary Quarter-Finals. In an amicable parting of ways statement, McEntee said: "To the players, I would like you to know that it has been an honour to get to know and work with such a great bunch of young men. I wish you nothing but the best going forward. I will be watching. To all of the above I hope that you continue to strive to reach your potential as a county. "Finally, I would like to mention my family who never ceased to support me from Limerick to Belfast, from Sligo to Croke Park and everywhere in between" While the County Board's Statement added: "We would sincerely like to thank Andy and his entire backroom team for their service and commitment to our Senior Footballers during their term. "We wish you and your family the best of wishes for the future. You will always be welcome in the Saffron County. Thank you Andy."
