Gleeson parts company with Antrim after five years

Darren Gleeson has stepped down from his domiciled arsenic Antrim hurling head aft 5 years successful nan job.

The erstwhile Tipperary goalkeeper did not springiness a logic for his departure successful a connection connected Monday greeting which said that he had held nan domiciled "with nan utmost pride".

Gleeson's domiciled invariably saw him making a 400-mile information travel 3 times a week to undertake his Antrim duties and fixed his young family, his determination is not a awesome surprise.

However, his remark that he intends to "continue my hurling journey" indicates that Gleeson's Antrim domiciled is improbable to beryllium his last engagement pinch inter-county hurling.

"When I first made nan travel successful nan Spring of 2018 to thief pinch a fewer sessions, small did I deliberation I would still beryllium location successful 2024," said Gleeson.

The Portroe club-man was appointed to nan Saffrons occupation successful September 2019 pinch nan county's hurling fortunes astatine a peculiarly debased ebb pursuing a play erstwhile they grounded to gain promotion from Division Two of nan Allianz League and besides were incapable to make a effect successful nan Joe McDonagh Cup.

Under Gleeson, nan Saffrons made contiguous advancement successful 2020 arsenic they earned a return to Division One by winning nan Division Two A title and besides lifted nan Joe McDonagh Cup.

Despite a fewer relegation battles, Antrim person remained successful Division One ever since.

While they dropped backmost to nan second-tier title for nan 2022 season, that was quickly addressed by winning a 2nd Joe McDonagh Cup and Gleeson leaves nan Saffrons pinch their Liam MacCarthy Cup position safe for adjacent twelvemonth erstwhile they will again compete successful nan Leinster Championship.

A thrilling triumph complete Wexford and triumph complete Carlow helped sphere Antrim's top-tier title position this twelvemonth contempt broad defeats by Kilkenny, Dublin and Galway.

Gleeson's lengthy connection included giving acknowledgment to his family, nan Antrim region board, his backroom team, nan county's players, nan county's sponsors, Club Aontroma arsenic good nan county's clubs.

Addressing nan clubs Gleeson said: "Thank you for nurturing and supplying nan players to nan county.

"You should beryllium immensely proud of them and what they person achieved to date."

Gleeson besides gave peculiar mention to Dunloy businessman Tony Shivers for his activity successful driving nan Saffron Business Forum.

"Your ambition, thrust and passion for Antrim GAA has been paramount successful our success," said Gleeson of Shivers.

Gleeson added that he looked guardant to gathering Antrim fans "around nan playing pitches of Ireland arsenic you proceed to support this awesome region of yours".

In position imaginable successors, erstwhile Clare, Wexford and Waterford leader Davy Fitzgerald is apt to beryllium linked pinch nan occupation though he besides whitethorn beryllium a contender for nan vacant Galway station pursuing Henry Shefflin's caller departure.

In position of contenders wrong Antrim, erstwhile Slaughtneil leader Michael McShane looks an evident fresh for nan occupation pinch existent Dunloy leader Gregory O'Kane different man apt to beryllium linked pinch nan vacancy.