DAVY FITZGERALD REVEALED that he had made the decision himself to change Clare freetakers and entrust Tony Kelly with the responsibility in injury-time in yesterday’s Division 1 hurling league final replay.
Nearing the end of the second-half, Colin Ryan struck a free wide for Clare and with the Banner trailing by a point at the death, Fitzgerald instructed 2013 Hurler of the Year Kelly to hit the placed ball.
His faith was rewarded as Kelly split the posts and then found time to strike over the winning score to seal a dramatic victory for the Banner.
“I’d have got killed if he didn’t score that point from the free because I changed the free-taker myself,” admitted Fitzgerald after the game.
“I felt he was on fire, I felt that that was one made for him and I asked him to hit it.
“I don’t know would the other selectors have killed me if it went wide. It was a call, he did it, great man for the big occasion and fair play to him.
“We were in trouble for a lot of that game. We were down three points, four points, five points. It went to six points. It’s hard.
“I felt we were always chasing today. There’s always hope. When there’s time there, there’s always hope. That’s massively important.
“We haven’t won a League title since 1978 and we’re extremely proud in Clare to win that and it means a lot to us, especially after a tough year or two in the last year or two. Hats off to the boys but credit to Waterford as well. I thought they were immense.”
The concession of two first-half goals was a major setback to Clare but their manager paid tribute to Patrick O’Connor for recovering from that rocky start.
“The two goals, I’ll tell you exactly how they happened,” outlined Fitzgerald.
“The first one happened because we hadn’t our extra man back. It happened right at the throw in.
“So we made a drastic mistake. Our extra man wasn’t in place the time he should have been in place, because I don’t believe the first goal would have happened (then).
“The second one, Pat O’Connor was trying to clear the ball and it fell short. He was unlucky.
“When you’re in that full-back position and things go wrong, you’re the last line of defence. And when that happens, your head can play tricks with you.
“I thought Pat O’Connor showed tremendous composure to come back and deal with that. He gave short balls after that we encouraged him to do that.
“It wasn’t easy after giving away those two goals to come back again.”
Clare and Waterford will renew acquaintances in the Munster semi-final on 5 June
“Listen, let’s be realistic, it was great for us, we hung in, we got the win but they could equally have got it, so what a battle.
“We’ve seen two unreal battles. Jesus, what more is going to come on June 5th. They’ll have the bit between their teeth on June 5 and we will too.
“So it’s going to be crazy out there but I’m looking forward to it. I think they’re going to have a massive say this year, I really believe that.
“Maybe I’m a bit biased because I was down there for three years and I absolutely loved my time down there.
“But I think they’re going to be tough.”
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The score doesn’t even sum up the match, Spurs should have been up by more. Delighted with the win, North London is lilywhite. COYS!!
@AM: COYS
Tottenham are well and truly the kings of North London. Arsenal have been dethroned.
@SuzukaYuiMoa: and still right there with chance of being kings of PL. COYS !!
@SuzukaYuiMoa: I support neither team, but I don’t see how.
City may have a better team, but they aren’t the Kings of Manchester….
Considerably the better team…outstanding performance from Czech savings Arsenal from a hiding..
Spurs on a different level than Arsenal nowadays-we’re out before Chelsea next weekend, got to continue to apply pressure, you never know….
@Baz: Totally agree, we win and it’s 1pt. It’s amazing what pressure does. The fat lady may be clearing her throat but she ain’t singing yet.
Sweet victory but quiet on here usual spurs articles full of gooner mugs. As a lifelong spurs fan that was one of our most dominant NL performances could easy been 3 or 4-0 #wengerin
@Drogspur: I’ve been putting up with their taunts for years, born about 3 miles from WHL with lots of Woolwich friends / colleagues. We needed this monkey off our back, coys!!!
Also guaranteed CL next year, that’s even bigger IMO as a Spurs fan.
@Stephen Duggan: afraid not. If Spurs lose all their games and city and united win all theirs, and united win all theirs 6-0 then Spurs will finish fifth. ;)
@Stephen Duggan: being done via a game (the last NLD at WHL) against Arsenal denting their slim CL hopes while simultaneously guaranteeing a finish above them and keeping the pressure on Chelski it makes it all the sweeter though doesn’t it?
@FPL Thommo: Oh my!!! Never thought of that ;)
@Ronnie Pickering: When you put it like that……. HELL YEAH!!!!
Pity there’s no trophy for finishing above arsenal they could dust the cabinet down
@paddy: Arsenal sure treated it as a trophy the last decade or so.
Spurs Dominant today gulf in class evident by the league table showed between the two sides today. no heart from Arsenal players never looked like they wanted it and the fans blame the manager?
@Ronnie Pickering: it was only ever a sideshow for arsenal fans anyway look i dont begrudge them their “success” and ill have no problem admitting theyre the bigger club when they lift their 14th league title and 13th fa cup sure who could argue with that?
No st totteringham day this year.
@funkytown: Or CL Football LOL
Not that it will happen but adding Bale to that spurs side would make for a very exciting next season..
@Dave Fingleton: well if its not going to happen and its not why would you say it ? If me aunt had balls blah blah
@paddy: yep. Not going to happen. If Arsenal players had balls they might not have gotten the schooling they got today…blah..blah..blah..
@Dave Fingleton: Yeah it would. As would adding Lionel Messi to Arsenal’s team…
@Dave Fingleton: yeah sure why not throw in messi and griezman for the crack ffs it’s close but I don’t know why the spud fans are so excited Chelsea’s win today was the better of the two and 3 of there last 4 games are at home and they only need the 3 wins.
Do you have to mention youre a life long fan every time you come on anyway if its true even i couldnt begrudge you finishing above arsenal once every twenty years or so
@paddy: butt hurt, are we?
New manager next season Arsenal will be back
@Aidan O connor: Wenger has signed da ting.
@Aidan O connor: As a Spurs fan it’s my fervent wish that Wenger will be Arsenal manager next season.