CLARE MANAGER DAVY Fitzgerald is determined that the hurling in the county will build on the legacy from their 2013 All-Ireland triumph.
Fitzgerald has spoken about how their setup were focused on delivering a message when touring schools in the county with the Liam McCarthy Cup as part of the celebrations after last September.
Leaving brochures in schools, launching new initiatives and monitoring underage sides is all part of Fitzgerald’s ambition that Clare will remain in ‘the top two or three’. The Banner boss has another four years left at the helm after receiving a new three-year term last year.
“We have worked very hard over the last seven months going around to schools really taking our time. We have left a brochure in every school of what we believe in. We are trying to leave stuff behind us that will make a difference. We are working on one or two new initiatives as well to help hurling, going forward. That takes time.
“I want us to be in the top two or three. That’s my goal for Clare. We’re not going to win All-Irelands every year, I don’t know where we’ll be this year. I think it’s good for hurling if the likes of Clare are up there and staying up there.
“We can’t just come and go. You lose a year or two you are going to get a bit of stick but I think a lot of Clare supporters know we work very hard and will try our best.”
“What I want to do is not going to happen overnight. Some good stuff happened after 1995 and 1997 as well, in fairness. But we have some different ideas and hopefully we will be able to build on what happened in 2013, that’s important.”
Fitzgerald believes Clare stayed competitive in his playing days under Anthony Daly but then regressed for a spell. The county has been lauded for their U21 dominance which has yielded three All-Ireland crowns in the last five years but Fitzgerald points out that lower grades have not generated as much silverware.
“We haven’t won these competitions for a few years – U14, U15, U16, haven’t won minor for a few years. We have been competitive at U21. There now seems to be good communication down through the links, which I’m very happy about.
“We get on well with the U21′s and you’d have a link down to the U17′s, 16′s, 15′s, so you’d be in touch with all them. The link is improving. We are still behind in certain aspects, but we are trying to address them at the moment. Hopefully going forward we will have a very good structure in place.”
