DAVY FITZGERALD HAS been in All-Ireland finals as a player and as a manager and has learned a few tricks along the way.
He knows the battle he faces now if he is to keep a lid on the hype and and keep Clare focused ahead of the county’s first All-Ireland final since 2002.
Yesterday in Croke Park his young side — which again featured four starters under the age of 21 — played with a confidence and maturity completely at odds with the setting and scenario. They outplayed Limerick in every department and, in the final reckoning, deservedly beat them by seven points, 1-22 to 0-18.
How good were they?
“The way we have to rank it is that Clare have been in five or six finals [seven] in over 120 years,” Fitzgerald said afterwards. “That’s where you rank it so that’s a pretty big achievement no matter what happens.
“I am so proud of these young lads. They are an example to everyone playing the game because they work so hard, they never say die.
“Have we taken a lot of stick in the last year and a half? We all have but they kept coming back and it’s nice when you know that when you ask them to do something, they’ll do it.”
Bookmakers immediately made Clare a 6/5 chance for the All-Ireland final on 8 September with Cork slightly shading favouritism at 5/6. Between now and then, Fitzgerald stresses, his side still have a lot of work to do.
“Was it a super performance? You might say it was but I don’t think it was because we gave Limerick too many shooting opportunities. They missed a lot of scores in the first half.
“If we do that to Cork, Cork will punish us and we know that. We have to learn lessons for today and I hope we will.”
As for managing the buzz and expectation of the coming weeks, Fitzgerald knows what has to be done.
“I know what comes with an All-Ireland and I could see it in the last week in Clare. It probably took us a while to get going down in Clare as regards getting the flags and the bunting out but it definitely took off over the last week and it kind of reminded me of the mid-90s.
“We’re in tough times. Has this given people a lift in Clare? It has and I think that’s fantastic, but my job with the team is 8 September.
“We’ll have a few bits of PR that we have to do here and there, and we’ll do them, but at the same time there’s only one job and that’s to prepare the team for 8 September and they’ve got to remember that too.
“3:30, 8 September; all the sideshows don’t matter.”
Cork will be favourites and that’s just the way we like it…fantastic day in chrocaigh yest….bannermen played their hearts out and deserve to be in the final..
People are very quick to forget that Clare have beaten cork three times already this year, fair enough they had the win at the Munster semi but we were poor that day and ever since then we’ve been improving in a massive way, it’ll be hard to call to be fair but no way do I see an easy cork win, it’ll be 50/50 but of course I’m hoping for a Clare win, hon the banner !!!
The manner in which he conducts himself on the side line is simply not on, I think he speaks so honestly when interviewed and he shoots up in my estimations, and then the next game he acts like a little B roaring and shouting abuse at everything and I hate him again. Its weird because I really admire him for what has achieved but I cant respect him for the way he acts.
Can’t see this Clare side now falling at the last hurdle…..
They have absolutely nothing to loose at this stage… Been written off in last 2 games and have destroyed their opposition….. While cork will be a formidable obstacle to overcome I have no doubt that God’s county will be victorious and capture hurling highest honour ……
Àn Clàr àbu!!!!!
Would love to see Clare do it, 2013 has been such a year of shocks it would be a fitting end to see the underdog win instead of an old power like Cork. Whatever happens though, hurling has been a joy to watch this summer!
Old power??
Yes Diarmuid old power. Cork are historically very successful in hurling (with nearly 30 titles I think?) but have only returned to prominence this year, Clare have 3 and are underdogs according to the bookies this morning
Cork just have to turn up on the 8th, 12 to15 points win for cork. The real all Ireland final was last week,
JBM can’t believe his luck after yesterday
I don’t know why people are saying cork will win handy, unless they’re up to divilment! Cute Clare feckers! This is a serious side in Clare and they have proved it at underage too! This is a 50/50 game! My in laws are Clare ppl so I personally can’t wait! Should be a great final and a serious clash of styles! Rebels Abu!
Great picture