Antrim must park 'turmoil' for London game - McManus
McManus was a member of Davy Fitzgerald's backroom team last season after retiring from inter-county hurling at the end of the 2023 season [Getty Images] Former Antrim hurler Neil McManus feels 2026 "has been fraught with disappointment" for the Saffrons and despite being "let down by officials", has urged them to get back on track for Sunday's crunch Joe McDonagh Cup match against London in Ruislip [13:00 BST]. Antrim's defeat by Laois two weeks ago leaves them joint bottom of the table with London as both seek their first points of the campaign this weekend. Following that loss, Antrim was plunged into crisis when a players' letter to the Antrim county board came to light last Tuesday (28 April), requesting a meeting to seek clarity on the status of manager Davy Fitzgerald and the issue of playing gear which wasn't delivered.
With no member of the county board available, players boycotted that evening's planned training session, leading to a subsequent statement from the county board denying reports there had been moves to oust Fitzgerald. A meeting did then take place the following evening with confirmation Fitzgerald will remain as manager and, with the players back in training, McManus is hopeful the full focus is now on "a huge weekend" for the county's hurlers. "We're in really unusual situation of utter turmoil over the past number of weeks and the Antrim hurlers' season has been fraught with disappointment," the former Antrim captain told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom.
"We just about managed to stay up in the league and now we are winless from the first two games in the Joe McDonagh, so it's paramount we get off and running this weekend in London. "I think the players have dealt with it really well. [They've been] let down by officials, but have responded very well and have been mature.
"They were seeking some clarity and decided they were going to move forward, got back to training and I believe the connection between that group of players is very strong. " Relegation to Christy Ring Cup 'totally unconscionable' While Antrim's prospects of reaching the final of the Joe McDonagh Cup are remote, McManus says it would be "totally unconscionable" to suffered relegation down to the third tier Christy Ring Cup. Defeat in London this weekend would bring that scenario into view, leaving Antrim marooned at the bottom and likely needing wins in the final games at home to Carlow and Westmeath to give them a chance of survival.
It's a far cry from two years ago when Antrim registered wins over Wexford and Carlow in the Leinster Championship, but suffered relegation from the top table last year after five defeats in the provincial championship. McManus still has faith in the current squad to turn things around, urging them to "solidify and get back to that level". "They are a fantastic group and have put many of the best teams under pressure when they have travelled north over the last number of years," he added.