Andy McEntee: New Antrim football boss says county's 'ambition' convinced him to take role
- Published
McEntee led Meath to two Leinster finals during his six-year reign as Royals boss
New Antrim football manager Andy McEntee says the county's "ambition" convinced to take the job after saying recently that inter-county posts had become "less and less attractive".
McEntee, who stepped down as Meath boss in June, has agreed a three-year term.
"It probably surprises me as much as anyone else, it wasn't something I had on my mind," said McEntee.
"Donal Murphy [Antrim's county treasurer] approached me and he can be very persuasive.
"We talked for a while and I agreed to meet him. I went to Belfast last week to meet him and have a look around.
"I was hugely impressed with facilities and the attitude of the county board towards what they were trying to achieve. Casement Park, that project getting under way, it sounds like a very exciting time.
Current county board 'has changed the culture'
"Those guys have changed the culture, if you like, up there and the level of expectation.
"I look at the population, I look at the organisation, the facilities they have between Jordanstown and Dunsilly are second-to-none.
"They have an awful lot of things done right up there and seem to have the ambition to push on again."
McEntee from Tyrone great Enda McGinley, who stepped down after Antrim's Tailteann Cup exit in May.
McEntee opted against seeking a third term with Meath after their All-Ireland qualifier defeat by Clare in June.
His appointment was approved at a county board meeting and was ratified by clubs on Monday evening.
Prior to his stint with Meath, McEntee led Dublin club Ballyboden St Enda's to an All-Ireland Club Football title in 2016.
He took over as Meath manager later that year and led his native county to successive Leinster finals in 2018 and 2019.
Under him, Meath also sealed promotion to Division One in 2019 but they were relegated back to the second tier without winning a game the following season.
McEntee, whose son Shane is Meath captain, will be tasked with leading the Saffrons to Division Two with McGinley having earned promotion from Division Four in 2021.
McEntee's arrival in Antrim will come as a surprise to some after his recent appearance on The GAA Social podcast, in which he admitted that "social media attention" is making inter-county management "less and less attractive".
Following McEntee's resignation from the Royals, Meath GAA outlined its "disgust at the personal abuse" aimed at its members on social media.