SUNDAY’S LEINSTER HURLING final is a truly unique occasion in the GAA, as Galway face a Davy Fitzgerald-led Wexford for the first time in a provincial decider.
Once hailed by Waterford legend John Mullane for his Jose Mourinho-like style of management, Fitzgerald has proved to be a ‘Special One’ for the Model County.
Since taking over last October the Clare icon has masterminded Wexford’s promotion to Division 1A, knocked off Kilkenny in the Championship for the first time since 2004 and now has them on the brink of bridging a 13-year gap for a Leinster title – all inside his first season at the helm.
He may exude more passion than an episode of Love Island, but Fitzgerald is always a man with a plan. So we disappeared into our own blacked out box in Power Tower to plot the five phases of Davy we’ll certainly see come Sunday.
Oh, and we’ve added in a few bets that could have you bouncing around the sitting room like Fitzgerald next to a linesman if they land.
1. The Ger Canning/Joanne Cantwell staredown
During Clare’s epic run to the All-Ireland title in 2013 Davy’s manic pre-match interviews became almost as unmissable as the games themselves. Unfortunately for RTÉ reporters Ger Canning and Joanne Cantwell, they were usually on the end of a volley harder than Lee Chin’s calf muscles.
Canning in particular, once received a stare so cold before an All-Ireland semi-final against Limerick it would have frozen a sun-drenched Marty Morrissey in his tracks. With so much on the line this Sunday, we reckon the tradition will return.
If he’s that intense answering a few questions before a game, imagine what he’s like inside the dressing room beforehand. Expect the Yellowbellies to be more riled than Jim Gavin over Diarmuid Connolly’s ban this weekend and there won’t be much in it at the final whistle.
- Wexford (+5.0) – 10/11
2. “My colts are ready to bolt”
A quote from the book of Davy once read, “May the best horse jump the ditch and we’ll see what happens.”
We’ll if that’s the case, Fitzgerald has his Wexford charges ready to run the bloody Grand National! The men from the south-east have only lost one game all year and scored a whopping average of 24.56 points per game in their nine 2017 outings.
Just like any good horse, Wexford should burst from the stalls. Don’t be surprised to see them gallop at Galway straight away and win a free early doors.
- First scoring play to be a Wexford point from a placed ball – 5/1
3. The “who the hell is marking Joe Canning” head in hands
Joe Canning’s admiration for Fitzgerald is well documented, even taking time out of Galway’s All-Ireland quarter-final celebrations last July to wish Davy the best in his recovery from a minor heart procedure.
Just because Canning is not in the full forward line anymore, that’s not going to stop him trying to put Wexford to the sword at Croker.
Canning has hit 0-16 in his two Leinster Championship run-outs and has been hotter than the Costa del Sol. Davy knows he’ll need minding.
- Joe Canning to be RTÉ Man of the Match – 11/2
4. “Ah ref! We small fish get nothing”
When it comes to officials and decisions, not even Chelsea’s Antonio Conte can match Fitzgerald for antics both in and out of the technical area.
The two-time All-Ireland winner may philosophically ask, “how do you get the breaks when you’re a small fish?” However, the reality is his discipline – and Wexford’s – needs major improvement.
His side conceded two penalties to Kilkenny the last time out, which almost turned their fairytale into a horror story and the boss himself is only just back from an eight-week ban for rampaging onto the pitch in the League semi-final against Tipperary. The Wexford County board may need to tie him tightly to his managerial chair on Sunday.
- Davy Fitzgerald to be sent from the field of play to the stand by the referee during the 70 mins play – 4/1
5. “That’s heart and guts! The people of Wexford deserve this”
Davy emerged from his specially made Wexford Park cocoon like a beautiful butterfly following the historic victory over the Cats and despite being banned from speaking to the media, those cunning lads from South East Radio still managed to get a couple of memorable sentences out of him.
Fitzgerald righted hailed the “heart and guts” of the men in purple that day and they can expect a tsunami of support behind them at Croke Park with over 30,000 fans expected to travel up the M11.
Restricting their opponents to a 20.11 points per game average, there’s no reason they can’t repeat that trick in this encounter. It may take them a couple of bites at the cherry, but if Davy Fitz brings the Bob O’Keeffe cup home, Wexford hurling will have found their new messiah.
- Wexford to lift the cup – 5/2
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For more tips, insight and the odd star columnist, head over to the Paddy Power blog.
