This past Sunday in Ennis, the echoes of the match were truly palpable, lingering in the air a good hour after it was all over. The once-crowded pitch had now been vacated by the 19,893 spectators who were bear witnesses to the clash between Clare and Waterford. The vacant space, now devoid of its spectators, seemed to vibrate with kind of spectral energy that is peculiar to a sports venue that has recently seen a major event. Something significant transpired here. Life unfolded.
Davy Fitzgerald stationed himself outside the Waterford changing room, his energy unabated. For those who are familiar with him, they know that there are times when he borders on comical – a peculiar amalgamation of Conor Moore’s Davy Fitz impression and the real Davy Fitz. This was one of those moments.
[ Clare laboriously clinch victory against a disheartened Waterford ]
None of his usual audience remained. His media obligations were fulfilled, almost everyone had departed. What remained were the two teams, slowly dispersing from their respective changing rooms, some nourishing themselves, others changing clothes. Amidst it all, Davy stood, still driven, still curious about the number of steps Mark Rodgers took that led to Clare’s third goal.
His heated encounter with referee Liam Gorman at the end of the match was thoroughly discussed and scrutinised on television, radio, and various podcasts in the following days. Yet, no charges were brought forward by the CCCC and Gorman did not register any formal complaint in his report.
He refutes the notion some suggested post-match of him losing his cool with the ref. “I did not lose it with the ref. He will vouch for that I believe. I criticised him about a particular incident that had me all riled up, it wasn’t the final ball. I was fiercely driven by this single issue that I was strongly adamant about.
“Did I verbally insult him or swear at him? Not at all. However, I remained steadfast on the point I was making. I was indeed upset about a call and it was about the step count. I was under the impression it was six or eight steps when in reality, it was likely five or six. Retrospectively, I can accept that it was a fair call.”
“But I was trying to address something at that moment. If you question me about having any issue with Liam Gordon or suspecting him of unfair play in any way, my answer is a definitive no. My concerns, even though I appeared agitated, were over a specific issue that I wanted to bring forth for discussion.
I treated Liam with respect and was not in any means, abusive. I’ve observed referees being interrogated in multiple matches throughout the year, whether it’s mid-game or at the end, and holding their perspective strongly. And I firmly believe that if you question Liam, he will assert that I showed no form of disrespect towards him. We are not attributing our loss in the game to him.
Let’s move on to Limerick, where one of the duo of potential conflicts could erupt on Sunday. There is a plausible contemplation that his Waterford squad could throw the championship into chaos by defeating Limerick. However, there’s also a finite possibility that this may mark Fitzgerald’s final intercounty contest.
Fitzgerald remarked, “I don’t entertain such thoughts at all.” Waterford and I agreed to a two-year stint with an optional additional year. If either party wishes for a continued partnership, we’ll consider it by the end of this year. However, such thoughts would not occur during a match week.”
Fitzgerald has been coaching senior inter-county teams nearly uninterrupted for the last 17 seasons. He is the exclusive manager to have won an All-Ireland (with Clare in 2013), a Munster title (Waterford 2010), a Leinster title (Wexford 2019) and a National League (Clare 2016). His 68th championship match on the sideline is on the horizon, with his record from the preceding 67 matches reading: 30 victories, 29 defeats, and 8 draws.
Interestingly, Fitzgerald has claimed more victories over Limerick than any other county. His teams from Clare and Waterford have competed against them in the championship six times and have been victorious four times. The two losses occurred 11 years apart: a qualifier with Clare in 2012 and a narrow defeat in last year’s Munster Championship.”
The proverb “you never step into the same river twice” holds particular truth for Davy Fitz – perhaps more so than for most. His performance seems to improve when facing Limerick – a notable example of this was when his Wexford team dealt the first blow to the Kiely era during a cold February league Sunday in 2017. Despite a near miss last year, it was clear that Limerick were never in significant danger.
Fitz maintains profound admiration for Limerick. “A dislike for Limerick? Absolutely not. Their hurling, in my view, is phenomenal – some of the best I’ve ever witnessed”, he states with no ambiguity. He adds, humorously and somewhat wistfully, “If the recent game in Cork had gone in their favour, we’d already be through and Sunday would no longer be such a concern. But, alas, one can’t have it all.”
Though he jests, Fitz knows that Waterford have only themselves to lay blame on for their current predicaments. The late 1-1 conceded against Tipperary, despite the uproar over Clare’s winning 65 last Sunday, has proven costly in terms of their progression to the knockout stages.
It’s clear that if they had successfully wrapped up that game, Waterford would merely rely on a Clare victory over Tipp this weekend to secure a safe advance. Instead, they face the daunting task of having to achieve a result at the Gaelic Grounds against arguably the most formidable team of recent times.
“Surely, Tipp should have been defeated by us,” asserts Fitz, “But, that’s the unpredictable nature of hurling. The responsibility is ours, we need to self-reflect. It’s no use to brood over why we aren’t through yet, the only explanation is our own performance. We overlooked the opportunity to settle matters and we were unsuccessful.”
Nonetheless, there is consensus that they are currently in a more favourable position than the same time last year. Whilst Fitzgerald’s ability to split opinion might be as enduring as a pugilist’s punch, there’s common agreement that this Waterford team is in a healthier condition than the one at Liam Cahill’s tenure’s end. And certainly more so than the previous year when they entered their final Munster match on the back of a hat-trick of losses.
Gaining assurance from our demonstrated tenacity in facing eminent contenders is crucial for us. The only remaining element of uncertainty is our adaptability with an expedited turnabout. Limerick has had a fortnight to analyse us, while we’ve only had a week. This is the only aspect I’m unsure of.
Undeniably, he excels in unravelling their potential, and the feeling is mutual. The modestly evaluated Waterford team that he took charge of towards 2022’s conclusion provided him with a wealth of high-calibre experience. Although they were generally believed to be Munster’s weakest side, Fitzgerald’s locker room distinctly showcases individuals replete with league medals, All Stars, numerous All-Ireland final experiences— far from a desolate and timid collective.
In his previous approach, Fitzgerald’s primary impulse could have been to assert his dominance, possibly challenging orthodoxies to signify his intent. However, that’s not the case in the present scenario. The dialogue between the players and the management has been extensive and ongoing.
You have to empower the players. We usually have separate meetings, following which they furnish their views quite honestly. While I might not have previously aligned with this managerial tactic, I now view things differently. They present us with their perspectives, we table ours, and we reconcile the two. I regularly engage with players independently, deeming it as crucial to ensure they are listened to.
Is it always a bed of roses? I doubt any set-up continuously runs smooth. If any manager suggests that their squad is always harmonious, I would be sceptical. My endeavour has been to listen to them. Do I agree with all that they suggest? Not necessarily. Would they align with everything I propose? Probably not. The aim is to strike a harmonious balance.
Contrary to the prevalent rumours, he maintains that the playing style of Waterford has not incited any issues between him and his team. He clarifies that their pre-tournament decision of not playing with an additional defender was not prompted by any sort of rebellion among the players at a team assembly. They faced a few problems here and there, but this wasn’t one of them.
In order to foster a robust manager-player relationship, he held several meetings with them during the league regarding a variety of matters and always tried to include them as much as possible. He is perfectly fine with the fact that the way they play was never a problem.
Depending on the availability of players, they have a few alternate play styles. That mainly determines their strategy. There might be a chance that they go back to playing with an extra defender in future. He would feel let down if the players didn’t speak up about any issues with their playing style if there were any.
He is aware of the fact that people will draw their own conclusions. They will interpret his words through their own Davy Fitz lens, a thing they have been doing for more than thirty years. He doesn’t take it to heart as much as he used to. At least, that’s what he says.
What he certainly knows is that he will take his team to Limerick this weekend to test their mettle against the best. Irrespective of the end result, that’s where Davy Fitzgerald enjoys being.