*David Fitzgerald. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
LOSING THE Munster senior hurling final for the second year in a row left “a sour taste” for David Fitzgerald and his Clare teammates but it hasn’t diluted their appetite for glory in the county colours.
Fitzgerald lining out as a key member of Clare’s middle third was very satisfied to get a chance to dust off the cobwebs and brush off the hangover of the one point provincial final loss to Limerick.
Clocking 5-26 served as a more than adequate response, he flagged. “It was good to get back out on the pitch to be honest. The Munster Final left a real sour taste in our mouth because we had the chances to win it. To go out there and put up that score on the same pitch was a positive response. We put in a decent performance, it wasn’t perfect by any means but it was good enough to get the win and head to Croke Park which is the most important thing”.
Sealing a trip to Jones Rd was their aim in bouncing back from that Limerick loss, he said. “Our one goal from that Munster Final was to get back to Croke Park and although we didn’t achieve it that day we rectified it today and we are back where we want to be. We know it’ll be a mammoth task in two weeks time but we will recover this week and get down to preparations”.
Reflecting on their 2022 semi-final clash with Kilkenny, the Inagh/Kilnamona clubman said it was an occasion when a lot went against Clare, this included losing centre-back John Conlon to injury shortly before throw-in. “We feel good, we felt good last year too but things didn’t go according to plan on the day. That’s sport for you. Some days things just go against you and that was definitely one of those days. We will do everything in our power to get things right now though and have a proper go at Kilkenny”.
Key to their eighteen point quarter-final win over Dublin was the manner in which Clare took advantage of the breaks that fell their way, the All Star believed. “The goals were huge for us today and made the game very comfortable in the end. Dublin pressed us high up the field which suited us and any time we broke, we broke at pace and it opened up for us. We were able to take our chances when they presented themselves and that’s something we didn’t do the last day out so that was another pleasing aspect”.
Competition for places is noticeable within the panel according to the 2016 National Hurling League winner. “It was great to have Reidy back out there and in fairness to the whole squad they’re all pushing for a starting jersey and that only makes the team stronger which in turn benefits all of us. Shan came on again and did the business. Training is going well and we are all looking forward to having a real go in two weeks time. We have to deliver a performance again and see where that takes us”.
