Antrim GAA officials have appointed Davy Fitzgerald as their new senior hurling manager for a two-year term, while the Clare native also has an option of a third year.
The move had been anticipated over the past number of weeks.
All-Ireland winning player and manager Fitzgerald's arrival at Antrim is significant for the hurling-mad fraternity in the county.
Fitzgerald recently resigned from his role as Waterford hurling manager after two seasons in charge.
The Clare native had another year left on his three-year term but decided to step down and he was immediately linked to a number of roles.
But following weeks of talks, he will soon be heading north to scout games in preparation for the 2025 season.
Antrim county board chairperson Séamus McMullan said: "Davy brings a wealth of experience to the role.
"His vision, drive and determination is a perfect fit with the ambition of our playing panel.
"We are confident, too, that Davy will bring the very best out of the emerging hurling talent that is present within our county.
"We are committed to further developing our underage structures in Antrim and welcome Davy's interest in contributing to that – that is an exciting prospect for our young hurlers and their clubs.
"On behalf of the clubs of Antrim, we wish Davy the very best and look forward to working with him and his team."
Fitzgerald previously managed Waterford between 2008 and 2011 and then returned to manage the county following the 2022 season. He guided the team to a Munster title in 2010 in his first spell with them.
Last year, he led them to a Munster SHC win over Tipperary and this year they beat Cork at the beginning of the 2024 campaign, narrowly failing to progress from the province.
He landed All-Ireland and league titles for Clare in 2013 and won another league with the Banner in 2016.
When he took charge of Wexford, he led them to a Leinster Championship in 2019.
Fitzgerald has been consistently involved as an inter-county player, manager or coach every year since 1989.
He was expected to take a first full break from the top flight but now he will be back at the helm of another Liam MacCarthy Cup team.
He replaces Darren Gleeson, who stepped down after five years after guiding Antrim to Joe McDonagh Cup wins in 2020 and 2022, keeping them in the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2023 and 2024.
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