Sorry to see Davy Fitzgerald hanging up his inter county hurl.
Davy played a recent inter-county challenge game for Clare under manager Mike McNamara but he couldn’t shift first choice ‘keeper Philip Brennan in the league and he’s decided to call it day.
Davy Fitz is too competitive and proud a hurler to accept second best and his fanaticism about training, often employing personal trainers at his own expense at the height of his career, meant that he was either going to make it back or pack up.
Fitzgerald has been one of the most colourful characters in hurling and his performances often lit up the ‘90s as he kept goal behind the so-called Super Six when the Clare defence ate most attacks for starters.
He was almost manic as he fought to deny the country’s top attackers, absolutely fearless and when he pucked the ball out air traffic control had to be informed by the match officials!
His penalty goals are the stuff of legend as he galloped back the length of the field fist in the air and jumping after bursting the net.
There aren’t enough characters around in sport and so Fitzgerald’s departure is to be regretted and now only Frank Lohan remains from the side which played a full and exciting part in the hurling revolution of the ‘90s.
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4 comments:
what a character, i'd the pleasure of meeting Davy Fitz, Jamesie O'Conor and Anthony Daly back at the peak in 1999/2000 of a training weekend with Scoil Mhuire before our all Ireland semi final.
His passion for hurling was pouring out of him... We had a question and answer session with them after they took us for a training session...I remember that trip like it was yesterday!
The Clare team of the '90s are real heroes of mine. They took on the traditional counties for a four year period and not only did they take them on but they also bullied them, no inferiority complexes there.
Hurling has been the loser since the revolution ended in '99 and the old guard have it sewn up again.
The Kilkenny and Cork teams of the last few years have great ambassadors for the game and taken it to another level, it's catch us if you can but it's a better championship when there's more than two possible winners.
yeah your completely right... with regards to no inferiority complexes there.' this was installed by the great Ger Loughane... not sure if he'll be able to crack the monopoly of Cork and the cats with his Galway team thou... They always flatter to decisive...
Waterford have also been the nearly team over the last few seasons.... i love watching them hurl! Big Dan, Eoin Kelly, Tony Browne and off course Ken McGrath (the McGeeney of hurling)
Agree that Loughnane drove a coach and horses through the inferiority complex in Clare.Galway is a different beast though as they did taste success right through the '80s but should have won more than they did. I hope they can make a challenge the game needs it badly.
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