Antrim journey a labour of love for boss Wallace

Payments to managers has dominated the sports news of late, so when three managers, who all have to travel some distance to be with their respective teams, gathered for the launch of Allianz’s sponsorship of the hurling league, the issue of expenses was always going to be brought up.

Anthony Cunningham, a Galway native now domiciled in Roscommon, has a fair trip to make to Pearse Stadium several times a week. Dublin manager Anthony Daly leaves west Clare. Longest trip of all is undertaken by new Antrim manager Jerry Wallace — Midleton to Belfast, one corner of Ireland to another.

“Since I’ve been involved on the inter-county scene, I’ve always got only my expenses and I’m happy to do that,” Wallace said. “At heart I’m a GAA man, I’m still involved with my own club [Midleton] at home. I’ve never looked for a fee, I’ve always been involved only for what I considered legitimate expenses. I think that’s the road the GAA has to stay on.”