Paddy McBride believes the appointment of Andy McEntee can only be a positive for Antrim as they look ahead to the 2023 campaign.
The former Meath boss was a somewhat surprise choice to succeed Enda McGinley earlier in the summer.
McEntee left his post after six years in charge following Meath’s All-Ireland SFC Qualifier defeat to Clare.
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McGinley, meanwhile, stepped down after two seasons with the Saffrons. During that time, the three-time All-Ireland winner guided Antrim to promotion from Division Four in his first season while Antrim comfortably retained their Division Three status in the Spring.
McBride, however, feels the Saffrons missed an opportunity to secure back-to-back promotions this season, but believes the appointment of McEntee is another step in the right direction.
“I think it is a great appointment to be honest. Just looking at his CV and what he has already done, he is an All-Ireland winning manager with Ballyboden St Enda’s,” said McBride.
“He did great work with Meath and I think it is a great appointment for us. He brings a lot of experience, but it is also up to the players to drive things on and not be relying on managers.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
Division Three next season will be something of a mini Ulster Championship with Antrim, Fermanagh, Down and Cavan all plying their trade in the third tier of the League.
Antrim’s fate was in their own hands after three wins and a draw from their opening five games this season, but back-to-back defeats to Louth and Westmeath saw them miss out on promotion.
“We should have got promoted. Some of the results were completely our fault,” reflected McBride.
“We didn’t perform well in some of the games.
“When you look back, the teams we needed to beat, we didn’t. We didn’t go up and it is disappointing. I know a lot of people were saying it was good for Antrim to stay in Division Three, but I think we should be aiming for promotion from that League, especially after how we started.
“We had a bit of momentum behind us too after being promoted from Division Four. Next year is going to be even harder in Division Three.
“This year was our big chance to go up. Next year, you’ve the likes of Cavan, Tipperary and Down in Division Three. You’re going to have to be on the money from the first game.
“When we first get together to train under Andy, we’ll have to hit the ground running.”
The poor ending to their League campaign halted all momentum and seemed to drain the confidence from Antrim and their Championship campaign was a write-off.
A heavy defeat to Cavan in Corrigan Park was followed by a Tailteann Cup defeat to Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon.
"In the Championship, Cavan just blew us away - they were far superior on the day,” added McBride.
“We didn’t show up at all. In the Tailteann Cup, it didn’t feel like a Qualifier game. We really needed to pick ourselves up for that. We lost a few players as well.
“The teams who performed well in that competition probably looked at it as another chance to win some silverware.
“I think, if we’re in that situation again, we will be able to adjust our focus a bit better. It was a poor Championship campaign to be honest.”
While he admits Antrim’s absentees hindered their Championship progress, McBride doesn’t believe anyone should be coaxed into making a return to county duty.
“The thing about having your best players out, to me the best players are the boys that want to be there," added the St John's clubman.
“That’s what defines the best players for me, the boys who want to be on the pitch. If they want to be there, they are going to perform and give more in tough situations.
“If they need to be persuaded to represent your county or it seems a chore. . . I’d rather someone who is there and wants to give it their all.
“I think the players who you’d consider the best in the county have that attitude.”
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