Fitzgerald will miss Clare’s Munster opener unless red card appeal is successful

*David Fitzgerald in action for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

AN APPEAL is set to be launched by Clare GAA into the proposed one match ban for David Fitzgerald which would see him miss the county’s first round clash against Tipperary in the Munster SHC.

Inagh/Kilnamona’s Fitzgerald was issued with a red card by Waterford referee Thomas Walsh after he was involved in an altercation with Cork’s Robert Downey, ten minutes from the end of Sunday’s tie which finished in a draw.

Although the Cork clash was in a separate competition, the All Star is now set to miss Clare’s crunch opening round tie with Tipperary in the Munster senior hurling championship, a game fixed to take place in Cusack Park on April 23rd.

A vital member of Clare’s team and a crucial component of the middle third, Fitzgerald’s absence would be a big loss to Brian Lohan’s side and it’s why Clare GAA officials will appeal the sending off in a bid to get the UL graduate cleared in time for the Tipperary game once Walsh’s report is submitted to Croke Park chiefs.

Speaking to reporters before he saw video footage of the sending off, Lohan remarked, “I didn’t see a huge amount in it. Maybe if there was a video view of it but I didn’t see too much in it, there was a good bit of jostling there, sometimes if one guy is a little bit more aggressive than the other guy he can be pulled out, you have to be very cute especially when you’re up against inter county players”.