*David Fitzgerald gets away from Shane Murphy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE didn’t put a big emphasis on the result of Sunday’s game according to star performer David Fitzgerald.
Inagh/Kilnamona clubman Fitzgerald explained, “It was about getting more game time, the big one is the Munster championship in five or six weeks time, we are always aiming towards that”.
A potential league semi-final against a Munster county is something Fitzgerald is not too fazed about. “Different players will probably play that week and whoever is given the jersey that day will push and try and get the jersey for the championship”.
Fitzgerald finished with five points from play in Sunday’s three point win over Kilkenny. He highlighted the impact of new additions to their starting fifteen. “The younger lads have really stepped up this year, Sean Rynne, Conor Leen, Darragh Lohan, Cian Galvin, to mention some have all really put their hands up and are in contention for a starting place for the first round of the championship. That’s what you want, obviously we have a few injuries and healthy competition is good”.
Offaly await this Saturday for Clare’s final group game. “We are hoping to keep the winning run going but again it will be about a performance and getting ready for the first round of the championship against Limerick,” he said.
Defensively he maintained Clare were very strong against Kilkenny. “The backs were superb, Kilkenny had a strong forward unit with the likes of Adrian Mullen, Eoin Cody, T.J.(Reid), they don’t need any introduction. Our backs stuck manfully to the task, even the subs that came in”.
On the emphasis Clare are placing on the League, David commented, “the championship is the only real test, league doesn’t really matter, it’s about being ready in five or six weeks time and getting through the championship, Munster, like always, will be difficult, any of the teams have a realistic chance of winning the title and it should be good for the neutrals watching in, there should be some good games”.
