Neil McManus is hoping that Davy Fitzgerald’s appointment as Antrim hurling manager will have the same effect as it had in Wexford.

The former Clare goalkeeper led the Slaneysiders to their first Leinster SHC title in 15 years in 2019 and McManus sees no reason why Antrim can’t get a similar bounce from the high-profile appointment.

"The players are very excited, which is very, very important," the ex-Saffron sharpshooter told RTÉ’s Sunday Sport.

"They'll want to know how did Davy get so much out of the Wexford side to bring them from where they were. Antrim would have been very competitive with Wexford up until Davy's arrival. And then the next thing Wexford were winning a Leinster title.

"Antrim will get that effect and really want to get some of it, and I think there's been a great buzz about the county."

The Cushendall clubman added: “He has a huge CV, a massive amount of experience; both at club level, with his own club, as well as inter-county management.

"I think he was a top, top candidate for any job in the country, but I was definitely surprised, because it's a long way from Clare to here."

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