AFTER A 14 point loss to Tipperary in the Waterford Crystal Cup final last week, Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald felt his team would struggle in the League, going as far as to say that he felt the All-Ireland champions would face a relegation battle in 2014.
So nobody was more surprised than Fitzgerald when his side overcame a spirited Kilkenny in their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A clash in Ennis yesterday.
The Bannermen — who had a point to spare at the end — controlled large swathes of the game in a performance that was light years from their facile loss to Tipperary.
Advertisement
“I’m shocked, I didn’t think they’d have that much in the tank, I genuinely didn’t because the trimming we got in the Waterford Crystal Final last week was a big one.
“Maybe that trimming mightn’t have done them any harm, it hurt them maybe a small bit to get beaten like that and they showed great courage out there today.
“It was nice to see that bit of fight in them.”
The All-Ireland winner isn’t taking anything for granted though and insists that tougher tests are to come for his side in the League.
“We are under no illusions, I still think we have an awful lot of work to do. I think what actually helped us in the end was the subs we used, I think they actually got us a bit of momentum and we just know that we probably are not fit enough yet, not near what we want anyway.
“It wasn’t that the lads were playing bad, it’s just that we needed to get new blood in there to try and give us a small bit of a buzz coming into the last ten minutes. I thought it worked okay today, we fought hard but we missed a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t be happy with.
“So listen, it’s a win but I’m not reading into it.”
The Clare boss had particular praise for the performance of his goalkeeper Donal Tuohy and Cathal O’Connell who made an impact off the bench.
“These conditions wouldn’t be our ideal conditions to tell you the truth but they worked hard, we’d a lot of small lads out there and I thought they played well.
“Fair play, even young Tots [Cathal O'Connell] who came on at the end, it was his first game; Shane Golden who started for us, it was his first game as well and Donal Tuohy in goals who had to wait two years for a chance, he brought off unbelievable saves.”
Davy Fitzgerald 'shocked' by level of Clare performance in League opener
AFTER A 14 point loss to Tipperary in the Waterford Crystal Cup final last week, Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald felt his team would struggle in the League, going as far as to say that he felt the All-Ireland champions would face a relegation battle in 2014.
So nobody was more surprised than Fitzgerald when his side overcame a spirited Kilkenny in their Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A clash in Ennis yesterday.
The Bannermen — who had a point to spare at the end — controlled large swathes of the game in a performance that was light years from their facile loss to Tipperary.
“I’m shocked, I didn’t think they’d have that much in the tank, I genuinely didn’t because the trimming we got in the Waterford Crystal Final last week was a big one.
“Maybe that trimming mightn’t have done them any harm, it hurt them maybe a small bit to get beaten like that and they showed great courage out there today.
The All-Ireland winner isn’t taking anything for granted though and insists that tougher tests are to come for his side in the League.
“We are under no illusions, I still think we have an awful lot of work to do. I think what actually helped us in the end was the subs we used, I think they actually got us a bit of momentum and we just know that we probably are not fit enough yet, not near what we want anyway.
“It wasn’t that the lads were playing bad, it’s just that we needed to get new blood in there to try and give us a small bit of a buzz coming into the last ten minutes. I thought it worked okay today, we fought hard but we missed a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t be happy with.
“So listen, it’s a win but I’m not reading into it.”
The Clare boss had particular praise for the performance of his goalkeeper Donal Tuohy and Cathal O’Connell who made an impact off the bench.
“These conditions wouldn’t be our ideal conditions to tell you the truth but they worked hard, we’d a lot of small lads out there and I thought they played well.
“Fair play, even young Tots [Cathal O'Connell] who came on at the end, it was his first game; Shane Golden who started for us, it was his first game as well and Donal Tuohy in goals who had to wait two years for a chance, he brought off unbelievable saves.”
Clare edge Kilkenny in Ennis thriller
Ulster and Connacht reach Interpro football final
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
comp:Allianz Hurling League Division 1A (Hurling 36) Davy Fitzgerald GAA Revitalised Clare Kilkenny