Peter Healy says Andy McEntee is putting his own stamp on the Antrim team.
McEntee was a real leftfield appointment, announced as Saffrons boss last July on a three year term, a matter of days after ending a six year stint with his native Meath.
Antrim have been scoring heavily and conceding heavily under McEntee, but they managed to stay in Division Three and got their Tailteann Cup campaign off to a flyer with a home win over Leitrim last weekend.
Read more: 2023 Ulster SFC Team of the Year: Champions Derry lead the way with nine places
Next-up for McEntee’s men is a trip to Wexford this coming Saturday, while they finish the group at a neutral venue against Fermanagh.
“All the lads love him (McEntee),” said Healy. “He’s been there and he’s done it all. He brings great experience.
“He brings something different to what Enda McGinley (previous Antrim manager) brought. He is trying to play physical football.
“He is playing big lads down the middle. He recalled Jack Dowling into the panel.
“He’s had a great impact on some of the games. He is a huge man.
“We are trying to utilise big Ruairi McCann and Pat Shivers at full forward, as well as the running game we have around the middle.
“Look, a lot of lads love him. The training is very good. Andy is some man to get lads riled up for a game.
“We went out against Down, started brilliant. Out against Cavan, started brilliantly. Fermanagh, brilliantly.
“It was just the tailend of those games where we lacked a bit."
Antrim's Ulster Championship campaign came to an abrupt end at the first hurdle against an Armagh side, which operated in Division One this year.
“Arrmagh were probably unlucky to go down,” said Healy.
“A couple of poor performances. Against Roscommon they got beat, and while there were a few question marks over them going in, they beat us, in fairness, quite comfortably.
“Then they went on to beat Cavan and Down very comfortably as well so I don’t think it was a reflection of us. Armagh are a good side.
“It’s definitely a thing that overnight nobody can really get a hop on anyone now because everyone is at such a high level.
“Everyone from Division Four to Division One is training six times a week. There is no real opportunity to catch lads on the hop.
“Some of these Division One teams, it is almost a professional set up now they are that strong.
“Football throws up surprises now and then. There’s no reason why you can’t see wins. Down beat Donegal. Donegal are on the way down, but there’s no reason why not.
“From an Antrim point of view, we are not going to fix anything overnight.
“We are trying to get more games in Division One, trying to play higher level teams - if we can do that in the Tailteann Cup.
“Win a few Championship games, kick on and get promotion from Division Three - exposing yourself to that higher level.
“We noticed especially in the Ulster Championship against Armagh - we didn’t start well in the first 10 minutes - the intensity we saw from Armagh was like no intensity we saw this year.
“It’s about exposing yourself to that level in order to drive on and push on, us as players.
“There is only so much you can do internally at training.”
READ NEXT:
- Red Hands must be ready for improved Galway side says Tyrone boss Feargal Logan
- Rory Gallagher steps down as Derry senior football manager
-
Brendan Rogers hails “special” Derry victory and opens up on black card decision
Kieran McGeeney makes Armagh penalty practise claim after another shootout loss
- Martin Lynch tributes paid after former Down GAA star dies after MND battle
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
