Tough times is a rare experience for Antrim boss Gleeson

Portroe’s Darren Gleeson has been involved with the Antrim senior hurlers for the last six years. After an initial two-years as coach, he was promoted to manager for the 2020 season as part of a reorganization of their hurling structures.

By Shane Brophy

The first four years were generally positive with two MacDonagh Cup titles in 2020 & 2022, as well as retaining their Liam MacCarthy Cup status for a second successive year. They have also played division 1 hurling for five successive years.

Gleeson’s time with Antrim has been generally positive but this year he is enduring a difficult campaign, impacted largely by missing key players such as the Dunloy quartet Eoin O'Neill, Ryan Elliott, Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy. Neil McManus retired after the 2023 campaign while last weekend Conal Cunning was unable to lineout and with Ryan McMullen and James McNaughton also missing, they were short on experience from the off against Tipperary on Saturday.

“We were battling against it from the off,” Gleeson admitted after the game.

“For the first twenty minutes, possession wise, it was even enough but they (Tipp) had the finishing plays whereas we were getting the ball to certain positions and weren’t efficient getting the ball inside, took bad decisions.

“We scored a point from a free and the next thing we conceded a goal from someone not resetting into their position at the other end of the field, and that is the level you are playing at.

“The endeavour was there and effort. It was a dead match for us and probably prior to the game with (Galway v Limerick) the other result being a draw, Tipp just had to do enough to get over the line.”

You only appreciate the commitment of Gleeson making the three-time weekly trip from Portroe to Belfast, around three hours each way. The former Tipperary All-Ireland winning goalkeeper admitted this had been a difficult campaign but hopes to have a stronger hand available when they start in the Leinster Championship against Kilkenny on April 21st.

“The focus is trying to rebuild,” he added.

“We have a good nucleus of a squad but have to rebuild where there are players pushing the guys that are getting the jerseys at the minute but are not being pushed for them week in week out in training as it has been a guessing game week to week in terms of having enough bodies.

“When you are missing a third of the squad for the league, and we’ll have some of them back come the championship, the boys are progressing well from their injuries, and we’ll see where that takes us come thirty-six days’ time in the championship.”

He added: “It has been difficult, difficult for everybody. You just try and keep a positive outlook, stay hitting the training goals and set your targets each week of what you want to get out of it. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been playing off on the field, but we have to leave a dent in the Leinster Championship and that is what we are going to try and do."