Neil McManus reckons Antrim hurling is in a far better place now than it was 12 months ago.

After suffering a shock loss to Westmeath in the first round of the Leinster SHC, Jerry Wallace stepped down as manager following a bizarre row with RTE, only to return a few weeks later under interim manager Jim Nelson for the humiliating All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Limerick.

"There was plenty of discontent last year," the Antrim captain is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Star.

"With the management leaving and coming back, it was just farcical to be honest. It was seriously unsettling, that sort of thing going on. We went ahead thinking that it was okay, but when you step back at the end of the year, you realise it wasn't.

"But it's been so good this year with how smoothly it has all gone (under new manager Kevin Ryan). We're just so happy that it's been put to bed.

"The way training has gone this year, and the players that have been brought in and the commitment shown from such a young team, has been incredible." Tweet

Most Read Stories