ANTRIM hurling ace Neil McManus hopes to buck the trend by playing inter-county hurling deep into his 30’s.
With many top hurlers bowing out of the inter-county scene once they reach their 30th birthday, McManus plans to keep playing for as long as possible.
Still only 29, McManus’s career with Antrim stretches back to the mid-noughties. He was involved in the 2005/06 minor teams that continue to backbone today's senior team.
After suffering a couple of bad injuries in the early throes of his career, the Cushendall man feels he is in “good shape” ahead of Antrim’s much-awaited return to Division 1B.
“My body is in good shape,” he said. “My worst injuries came between the ages of 17 and 19 – I suffered fractured vertebrae back then, so I’ve had a couple of major injuries. But as long as I’m required I’ll play. I love it. I’m maybe addicted. I totally and utterly love it.
“I look forward to going to training. I’m 29 – I’m not 36 or 37. I think my first Antrim session was when I was 17. If I’m still able to do it at 37 I’d say I probably would.”
In October, McManus’s county team-mate Paul ‘Shorty’ Shiels announced his retirement from the inter-county scene in the hope that his club Dunloy will get more quality years out of him.
Shiels underwent two major hip operations and battled back to full fitness to return for Antrim in 2017.
Despite playing close to his peak, Shiels still decided to step away from the county set-up.
However, McManus’s lust for inter-county hurling remains undimmed.
The Ruairi Og clubman had an outstanding National League campaign but by his own admission the second half of 2017 wasn’t vintage standard.
“Looking back on last year and how we played during the League and gained promotion was really satisfying. Then I got married and it probably disrupted the second half of the season.
“I feel like I’ve so much more to improve upon in my game. I love the training, I love being part of the team and the craic that goes with it as well.”
Antrim face Galway (a), Dublin (h), Laois (a), Limerick (h), Offaly (a) in Division 1B next season – and they will be assisted by Tipperary’s All-Ireland-winning manager Liam Sheedy who has agreed to help progress Antrim hurling.
Sheedy will not only assist with Antrim’s senior team but the county board has given the Tipp native a wide-ranging remit as he will be reviewing Antrim’s hurling structures from top to bottom.
Sheedy got to know Antrim’s current joint manager Terence McNaughton on the GAA’s Hurling Development Committee, with the latter helping persuade him to get involved with the Ulstermen.
McManus commented: “I’ve found Liam Sheedy to be a very matter-of-fact person, very straight, down-the-line man. He has huge experience in terms of setting up teams and juvenile teams – it seems so simple to him but could be of huge advantage to Antrim.
“His knowledge will be of huge benefit to us next season.”
