WATERFORD NATIVE KEVIN Ryan was last night ratified as the new manager of the Antrim senior hurling team for the 2013 campaign.
Ryan’s appointment was confirmed on the Antrim county board website after being strongly tipped to land the position in recent days and succeed Jerry Wallis who stepped down after a year in charge. He beat Michael Johnston, who has lead Armagh to two Nicky Rackard Cup titles in recent years, to the job while Antrim men PJ O’Mullan and Gregory O’Kane pulled out of the race last week.
Ryan has a wealth of managerial experience and was involved at inter-county level with Carlow since November 2008. He guided them to Christy Ring Cup success in his debut year in 2009 but this season their efforts ended in disappointment with defeat to Laois in the Leinster championship and Wexford in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
The Mount Sion man had previously taken charge of his own club team in the Waterford senior hurling championship as well as enjoying a successful stint in Wexford with club side Oulart-the-Ballagh and was involved as a selector with the Waterford senior side under Justin McCarthy. He will face a 440 mile round trip from his home to the Ulster county for training.
