Antrim have 'psychological' issues - Fitzgerald

Davy Fitzgerald's Antrim side suffered a second successive hammering as they were beaten 2-23 to 0-11 by Waterford at Corrigan Park

Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald said his side were "fighting a losing battle" after their first half collapse in their 2-23 to 0-11 loss against Waterford.

The away side held a 16-point lead at the break at Corrigan Park and were able to manage out the comfortable win in the second period as the Saffrons failed to threaten.

Fitzgerald was left frustrated with their performance as he conceded they are in a relegation fight to stay in Division 1B.

"They got the breeze in the first half and the idea was to kill us early and knock our confidence and they did that," he said.

"They got too many easy scores in the first half and at 16 points down at half-time, we were fighting a losing battle, and we were just surviving until the end."

'We need to show the people of Antrim that we care'

Fitzgerald had urged Antrim to bring the "fight" against his former side, who he rejected a new contract to stay on with to take up his role as Saffrons boss.

Their inability to do so in a third heavy defeat of the season only added to Fitzgerald's disappointment.

"If you come and see us train, we are savage, so [in games] it is a psychological thing not a physical one," he added.

"I feel gutted for Antrim supporters and the people putting in hard work. How we play and how we train are completely different.

"You shouldn't be beat by that many points at home. Waterford were on song today and wanted to show me a message since I didn't go back down there, and they did."

Fitzgerald was asked about his future after just one win in his four games in charge, but he defiantly stated that he is determined to turn around the Saffrons' fortunes.

"Don't think I don't look at myself, I'm looking at everything but that issue of not fighting hard enough was there before I was, but I'm not going to give up, I'm going to get that fight right," the All-Ireland winner with Clare explained.

"I thought it was going to get worse before it got better, I said that at the start, we need to show the people of Antrim that we do care and sort the inconsistencies out.

"If I can't do it, I will let someone else, I'm not here to glorify myself, I am here to help and see if I can make things better, that is the only reason I put myself through this."