LOUGHGIEL SHAMROCKS boss PJ O’Mullan Jr has expressed an interest in becoming Antrim’s next senior hurling manager following Kevin Ryan’s decision to step down.
O’Mullan insisted his “sole focus” would be trying to win back the Antrim county championship this year – but added he would consider the Antrim job.
“Right now, my sole focus is Loughgiel but it’s certainly something I’d be interested in doing,” said O’Mullan. “I’ve already been asked by a few people about it… There’s no point in me saying I’m not interested.”
Ryan will officially leave the post he’s held for three seasons once Antrim’s interest in this season’s All-Ireland U21 series expires.
The U21s face Wexford in the All-Ireland semi-finals on Saturday August 22 in Thurles, but there will be plenty of discussion surrounding the job before Ryan officially bows out.
It is understood none of the U21 squad turned up for a training session last Monday night.
“The job is definitely something that's been mooted to me a few times, and it’s something I’ve a desire to do,” O'Mullan added.
The 41-year-old has guided Loughgiel to an All-Ireland title, four Antrim titles and four Ulster crowns. They lost their grip on the county title last season, losing to Ruairi Og Cushendall. The Shamrocks are due to face St Gall’s in their Championship opener at the end of this month.
While O’Mullan remains committed to the Shamrocks post, he admitted that there are managerial challenges beyond his own club.
“You can do so much with the club. This is my fifth year with the club and fourth year as manager,” he said. “There is only so much you can do. And if you’re ambitious new challenges should interest you.
“It’s in my mind but as long as Kevin Ryan was in the job I was never going to allow my name to be bandied about.”
The Antrim seniors endured a wretched 2015 under Ryan. They failed to win a game in Division 1B and suffered the humiliation of losing a relegation play-off to Kerry.
Their subsequent round robin Leinster Championship was hugely disappointing. After beating Laois, the Saffrons suffered heavy defeats to modest Westmeath and Carlow, and they just about held onto their provincial crown with a one-point win over Down.
Despite a terrible run of results this year, O’Mullan believes there is sufficient talent in the county to do better.
“It’s not about the future – it’s about the here and now. And I believe there is plenty of talent in the county.”
In a hard-hitting interview with the Irish News back in March, O’Mullan was critical of Ryan’s regime.
“Every time you lift the papers you see the players and manager saying that physically they are fit to compete. But if we’re fit to compete, we shouldn’t be getting some of the beatings we’ve been getting and it’s hard to believe everything is as good as they say it is…”
While O’Mullan has thrown his hat in the ring to succeed Ryan, other possible contenders are former Antrim Allstar Terence McNaughton, who has managerial experience with the county's seniors and minors during the last decade, and current Down boss Mickey Johnston.
In a recent interview with The Irish News, former Waterford boss and long-time friend of Antrim hurling, Justin McCarthy said that the current team were “over-complicating” their play.
“It’s hard to put your finger on it [Antrim’s decline],” McCarthy said.
“A lot of it has to do with confidence. Tradition plays a big part. It’s tradition, belief, the right players coming together, playing the right type of game.
"Hurling is a simple enough game but sometimes we over-complicate things. If you get the basics right and execute the skills, you shouldn’t be afraid to cut loose.
"Antrim maybe need to rethink a little bit, not complicate it, simplify it."
