DAVY FITZGERALD WAS celebrating promotion for his Clare charges after yesterday’s win over Limerick.
Yet the Banner boss is still unhappy with the hurling league structure, believing both his side and the Limerick team they defeated should be operating at the top tier.
“I still think the whole structure should be changed. I don’t believe ourselves and Limerick should have been down there (1B).
“I would love to see more teams in Division 1A. It’s a no-brainer as far as I’m concerned. I would encourage them to look at that again. Let’s have more teams up there.”
Clare enjoyed a man advantage for a vast chunk of the game after Barry Nash’s dismissal but the failure to move out of sight on the scoreboard ensured Limerick stayed in touch.
“We went to six points and three or four bad wides and should have pressed on but Limerick are fighters,” outlined Fitzgerald.
“They won’t give in easy. I’d have great respect for Limerick all the time. They’ll keep battling and mark my words, I wouldn’t like to be playing Limerick in the championship.
They’re a very decent team. I honestly think anyone who was there today would know Clare were the better team today.
“I think there’s very little between Clare and Limerick but today I definitely think we deserved our victory.”
Success caps a positive spring to date for Clare. Tipperary are next up at the quarter-final stage but a series of victories in 2016 is in stark contrast to the defeats that haunted them 12 months ago.
“Tipp wouldn’t be afraid of us; they gave us a good beating last year,” stated Fitzgerald.
Listen I’m going to enjoy today if you don’t mind. I had enough of that last year.
“Last year we came out on the wrong end of a few of them and there’s no worse feeling, I can tell you. We trained really well last year and the year before.
“They’re still working hard but small things make a difference and hats off to the lads. Listen this is the 20th March and let’s not fool ourselves, okay? We’re happy and I’m happy for our supporters in Clare.
I think they’ve been great and the one thing I’ve noticed in all our games is that we’ve got no stick.
“There’s been no pressure put on the team and I really admire that about our supporters.
“They got behind the team today and even from a management and team point of view, once you’re positive and behind your team it makes an awful difference.”
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Ah come on now Davy, this is one of the best league structures ever which I think nearly everyone agrees upon. It gives the likes of limerick and Clare something to aim for and 1b is very competitive still while also helping the likes of Laois and Kerry to get exposure to high level hurling, quit moaning Davy and prove that ye deserve to be in 1a by beating tipp next day
Clare were worthy of a 10 point win, unless limerick get their selection team right and get away from the throwing money at problems attitude I’m afraid it will be same oul same oul
Also missing our club all Ireland champions contingent. Alot of Na Piarsaigh boys to come back in there yet. Write them off at your peril.
An Beal bocht, Division 1b very competitive, you must be dreaming. Limerick and clare are miles ahead of the rest