*Davy Fitzgerald shakes hands with Alan Neville. Photograph: Willie O’Reilly (Burren Eye Photography).
Getting involved with Sixmilebridge again and seeing the club taste success at senior level has brought an immense sense of satisfaction to Davy Fitzgerald.
On Sunday, he became the first person to train a side to Clare SHC honours in the same year as guiding another team to Leinster championship glory following Wexford’s exploits earlier in the summer.
Having not spoken to Tim Crowe for the past twelve years following his inter-county retirement, Davy and Tim put their differences aside after Chairman Paddy Meehan enticed the pair to work together with The Bridge senior team. “Me and Tim had our differences in the past. They couldn’t get anyone to take the job at the start of the year, a lot of people turned it down. The Chairman came and asked me would I work with Tim Crowe, it didn’t take me two seconds, I said I would, he was asked the same thing. It’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done to get back involved with Tim, it was the right thing to do and I’m so proud to have been involved with it”.
“Things don’t always go right and it’s nice down the road to put it right, maybe that’s what life is all about,” Fitzgerald added.
He praised Crowe for doing “a phenomenal job” as manager and spoke of how it was “a pleasure” to be back with The Bridge. “You’re born in one place, you grow up in one place, your club is extra special. I’m so delighted to be back involved with my own club and it means the world”.
Davy was previously player manager of The Bridge during the mid 2000s when success eluded them and in more recent years he coached the club’s minor teams in 2012 and 2015. One week on from his marriage to Sharon O’Loughlin, the two time All-Ireland winner was looking forward to continuing the celebrations. “I’d an enjoyable weekend last week and I’ll have another one this week”. Honeymoon plans will not be discussed until after their Munster club tie with Ballygunner on November 3rd.
