HE HAS EXPERIENCED great Clare hurling days as a player and tonight, in his first season as manager of the Banner outfit, Davy Fitzgerald was involved in another one.
In Cusack Park in Ennis, Fitzgerald saw his charges overcome a six-point deficit that they faced early in the second-half and the loss of defender Nicky O’Connell who was sent-off, to grind out a thrilling 1-16 to 0-16 success over Dublin.
The exuberant celebrations of the Sixmilebridge man after the final whistle illustrated that this was an occasion for him to savor. Clare have endured a tough run in recent seasons and this was their first senior hurling championship victory in four years.
On the back of a 2012 campaign that has already seen them secur their status in Division 1A of next year’s National Hurling League after a Division 1B final win over Limerick, this championship victory ensures Clare have made substantial progress under Fitzgerald’s watch.
They now advance to face either Wexford or Limerick in phase three of the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers next week. And here’s the reaction of the Clare boss in the wake of tonight’s game when he spoke to TV3.