THIS SEASON IS his fifth as Clare senior hurling manager and he has already guided the team to the biggest prize in the game, but Davy Fitzgerald’s appetite for success is still as substantial as it has ever been.
That’s according to Clare star Colm Galvin, who is full of praise for the former All-Star goalkeeper ahead of Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League final against Waterford in Thurles, where the Banner will aim to win their first title since 1978.
After below-par showings throughout 2014 and ’15, Clare booked their place in this weekend’s decider by displaying the kind of performances that brought them to an All-Ireland triumph three years ago.
Fitzgerald, who was appointed Clare manager in October 2011, is still the main man at the helm, but he has freshened up his management team for this season by introducing the likes of Donal Óg Cusack and bringing back highly-regarded coach/selector Paul Kinnerk.
“I suppose in the first year Davy took over, we were sort of going: This lad is mad!” said Galvin. “But… you only see the side of Davy at the side of the field, whereas Davy off the field is a very different character: very calm, very mellow, very easy to talk to.
“You see him when he’s animated. It’s pure and utter passion. I’d say he has the biggest passion for the game that I’ve come across and he brings that out in the players.
“Even after five years, you wouldn’t be really sick of listening to him because he brings such passion to the table. Bringing in Donal Óg and Paul coming back was a very good idea by him.”
Fitzgerald’s decision to draft in former Cork goalkeeper Cusack was one that initially raised plenty of eyebrows, but Galvin insists that it has already proven itself to have been a wise move.
He said: “They work so well together. People were probably thinking ‘this is a recipe for disaster’, but it hasn’t been. They both listen to each other’s opinions, including the forwards coach.
“Donal mainly works with the backs. From the goalie’s view, he knows what’s going on. He’s very good tactically that way. Davy tries to work a bit more with the forwards so they don’t clash too much. But they both bring great ideas to the table, as do Paul and Aonghus [O'Brien, coach]. They’re a great combination together.”
Lindelof looks way out of his depth and he cost £40 million quid? And the United fans laugh at Liverpool for spending the same on the Ox. What a deluded shower they have become.
@Micheal Thomas: he cost 31 million.
@FPL Thommo: Ah right it’s ok so. Not as big a flop as we thought! Just a £31 mill flop but the article above says £40 mill if you read it but that could be a step too far for ya!
@Micheal Thomas: Lindelöf played every week for Benfica, had the best stats for a defender in the Portuguese league and won 3 leagues titles. On paper very impressive.
Chamberlain was a bit part player for Arsenal and cost nearly 10mil more. Your point doesn’t really hold up.
@MarkSul: Haha in the mighty Portuguese league? He is been found out now. Hopefully he will start every league game from now on but don’t think Mourinho has lost it yet.
@Micheal Thomas: If he’s been found out after two games your comment about the Ox makes less sense. Whatever Lge he came from it looked and still could be a sound investment, has taken plenty of players a season to adjust to the PL. The Ox has played in d PL for years and has been just about average. Which makes the fee payed for him not a good investment. It was a panic buy to try to keep the Pool fans happy and most of them will admit they’re not.
@Micheal Thomas: Vidic, Evra and De Gea were a laughing stock at the start of their united careers too.
Lidelofs played two or three prem games. He may come good, he may not.
What’s for sure is the ox is absolute shite. Arsenal raped Liverpool.
@Micheal Thomas: I’m sure the article meant to say €40m, because his cost in pounds was 31m.
That’s a fact.
@MarkSul: Give me the Ox any day of the week over this spoofer. Mourinho knows he’s not up to it. Nearly November and it’s his 1st league start. There is no chance that he won’t line out next weekend to try and stop Harry Kane. When the likes of ‘Mike’ Smalling and Jones are still starting ahead of him at this stage of the season, you know he’s a guaranteed flop.
@FPL Thommo: Jaysus I didn’t think the exchange rate was gone as bad as that again overnight!
@MarkSul: @MarkSul: impressive on paper…doesn’t look so good when he plays on grass though!
@FPL Thommo: Stay classy there Thommo! Juve surely ‘raped’ United with Pogba! They’re still laughing a year later at what they got for him.
@FPL Thommo: then it would still be a mistake and 5m out. The £40m includes the add ons. Ox cost £35m, it was Chelsea who offered 40 but he wouldn’t sign. So get you facts right
@John Buckley: arguing over who was a worse signing….times are tough for liverpool and united fans. Although at least United have won a few things. It seems liverpool are literally only clinging onto uniteds mishaps to survive these days.
@Micheal Thomas: “There is no chance he won’t line out next week”. So you think he will start then or are you aware of what a double negative is? I’ve read your comments and it’s obvious who the real spoofer is here. A Liverpool fan with a profile picture of ex player Suarez in a Barcelona shirt. Get over it lad, the cannibal is gone for good so time to let it go :-)
@Brian: all I am doing is stating the correct facts. I am not arguing anything. You are as big an idiot as Thommo or are you the same person
@John Buckley: can you please point out where I said what ox’s price was?
Cheers
@FPL Thommo: can you please clarify how €40m = £35. Cheers
@John Buckley: again, where did I claim €40m is equal to £35?
Are you on drugs?
@John Buckley: also can you answer my first question please. You told me to get my facts right about the ox’s transfer fee. I never mentioned his fee.
Are you just going ignore your utter stupidity on that one?
@Micheal Thomas: So a player that’s fantastic in a crap league is no different to a crap player in a good league?
@FPL Thommo: the utter stupidity here is where you think £31m is the same as €40m. You should have taken the 35, you wouldn’t look quit the idiot you are
@John Buckley: so that would be a yes then. I don’t blame you really. You ridiculed me on something I didn’t even say and just ignored it then when you were called out on it to save face.
@FPL Thommo: I corrected you on the price of Linderof. I never said it was you that said the price of ox, I only stated a correct fact. Stop trying to hide from the fact that you made a huge error in your conversion of currency. It’s obvious I ridiculed you on the currency conversion.
@Micheal Thomas: shows what you know as he didn’t start yesterday ya tool he came on for an injured jones . Also he’s not even half a season in the PL , Chamberlain has had 7/8 seasons and scored 6 goals for a midfielder that’s robbing a living. Just admitted Ox signing was a joke.
Typical of United glory hunter fans calling for him to be sold already. Chap has only arrived. De Gea was awful when he first arrived too.
@Leon L.: who/where does it say they want him to be sold? Anyone with half a brain would realise he’ll be given time like any other player coming to a new club, go back to mammy dere like a good little suckler and dont be talking nonsense
@Leon L.: those statements are funny “typical fans calling for him to be sold”. Who? I don’t particularly like united but I’ve seen plenty of comments from fans and begrudgers about yesterday and not one comment said he should be sold. Liar.
Hargreaves is always bitter towards United, I never listen to anything he has to say
Don’t forget that everyone was saying that David De Gea was a dud and a waste of money when he first signed for United after his first season, and he turned out to be more than ok in the end, sometime a player just needs time to adjust, let just wait and see
@Tom Bolger: Correct Tom. Haven’t seen any genuine United fans on here calling for Lindelof to be sold. Like any new player he needs a run of games to get his form and confidence going. Remember Mkhitaryan in the first half of last season? Collectively United underperformed yesterday and I wouldn’t be quick to make a scapegoat of Lindelof like Hargreaves has done.
Does the same apply to Mata who needlessly gave the ball away for the first goal with no pressure on him.
@Malachy Rivers: I woulda though Mata’s mistake was the critical one for the first goal also.
I wouldnt write off the swede just yet. I’ll judge him after a season or two. Mata was at fault for the 1st Goal. So both goals were’nt entirley lindelofs fault. United are Lacked wingers that hug the touchline & put decent crosses into the box. Utd still need a comanding left back & an out & out left winger.
Mistakes will happen when the team as a unit are not doing exactly that , playing as a unit , unfortunately lindburg was the scape goat by not dealing with his side of the bargain ? Judge him when he settles in to the league ?