Antrim must 'stay in the game early' - Fitzgerald
Davy Fitzgerald managed Waterford in the 2024 season before becoming Antrim boss
- Published
Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has implored his players to "stay in the game early" as they face a daunting Hurling League Division 1B opener against Dublin at Croke Park on Saturday (17:15 GMT).
Fitzgerald, an All-Ireland winner with his native Clare as a player and a manager, is starting his first season in charge of the Saffrons, succeeding Darren Gleeson.
"If you watch Dublin over their last two or three challenge games that they've played, they've blitzed teams in the first 20 minutes, namely Limerick and Tipperary.
"They'll be trying to do the same to us. So they key for us is to stay in the game early.
"We need to go away from home and put up a performance and see where that brings us."
Fitzgerald, who has also had spells managing Waterford and Wexford, emphasises the need for a high workrate and a willingness to experiment with the some of the innovations he has introduced when they face the Dubs.
"It's a big occasion but we're about five weeks working together and we're trying a few different things. We've got to go down there with a real workrate, a real attitude, that's really what I'm looking for.
"I don't care really that it's at Croke Park, the big things for me are how hard we're going to work, the things that we're trying, that we keep faith with them.
"I think we're going to make mistakes trying them but they will have a positive impact going forward and we need to stay with it and absolutely battle our hearts out. I want to go down and have a right go."
'The more leaders the better'
Division 1B also comprises Waterford, Carlow, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois, with the top two teams being promoted to Division 1A and two sides dropping down to Division Two.
Former goalkeeper Fitzgerald is clear as to his his primary aims in the early stages of his tenure.
"The first thing I want to do in the first year or two with Antrim is be competitive and stay in this league and stay in the Liam MacCarthy.
"That would be a good job done and then we will improve massively."
The 2013 All-Ireland winning manager has appointed joint captains in Paddy Burke and Nigel Elliott and two vice-captains, Conor Johnston and Eoghan Campbell.
"Ninety per cent of managers want leaders all over the field. It is a big thing for me, I like spreading the load. The more leaders I have the better," explained Fitzgerald.
The Clare man has named a largely experienced side for Saturday's opener with Burke, Elliott, Johnston and Campbell all included in the starting 15.
Antrim: R Elliott; C Boyd, R McGarry, P Burke; D McCloskey, E Campbell, C Bohill; S Walsh, P Boyle; N McKenna, N Elliott, J McNaughton; C Johnston, E O'Neill, N O'Connor.