New Antrim football manager Andy McEntee says he hopes to build on the good work of the previous management as he begins a three-year tenure in charge of the Saffrons.
The appointment of the former Meath boss was ratified on Monday night and he takes over from former Tyrone star Enda McGinley, who stepped down in May after two years in charge.
McGinley, along with coaches Stephen O’Neill and Sean Kelly, helped Antrim secure promotion from Division Four last year and Antrim were in promotion contention this season and comfortably retained their Division Three status for next season.
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However, a heavy defeat to Cavan in the Ulster Championship was followed by a first round Tailteann Cup loss to Leitrim, prompting the Errigal Ciaran native to step down.
McEntee also left his post with Meath after six years following their All-Ireland SFC Qualifier defeat to Clare and his appointment to the Antrim job came as something of a surprise.
However, speaking to Jerome Quinn, McEntee says he was impressive by vision of the Antrim county board and hailed the “heavy lifting” already undertaken by the previous Antrim management.
“What happened was I was approached by Donal Murphy (Antrim treasurer) and he can be very persuasive,” said McEntee.
“We talked for a while and I agreed to meet him. I went up to Belfast last week and had a look around. I was hugely impressed with facilities, with the attitude of the county board towards what they were trying to achieve.
“Casement Park. . . that project getting underway, it sounds like a very exciting time.
“I would also have looked at what’s only after happening in the last couple of years. Enda (McGinley) and Stephen (O’Neill) have done a lot of work there, a lot of heavy lifting.
“Those guys have changed the culture, if you like, up there and the level of expectation.”
Confirming McEntee’s appointment in a statement, Antrim GAA added: “Antrim County Board are delighted to announce that Andy McEntee has been ratified as the new Antrim Senior Football Manager on a 3-year term.
“Andy brings a wealth of management experience at the top tier of both Club and County football.”
In his time with Meath, McEntee guided them to promotion back to Division One in 2019 for the first since the 2006 campaign. Meath also reached successive Leinster finals in 2018 and 2019, but lost out to Dublin on both occasions.
Before taking on the Meath job, he managed Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda’s to the All-Ireland Club SFC title in 2016.
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