CLARE MANAGER DAVY Fitzgerald has revealed that one of his top stars will be left “devastated” when he is omitted from the starting line-up for Sunday’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final following a concussion scare.
Fitzgerald is faced with an agonising decision after a player he refused to name was diagnosed with concussion following the comprehensive semi-final victory over Kilkenny.
Fitzgerald, speaking last night ahead of the championship dress rehearsal with the Déise, also confirmed that Conor Ryan and David McInerney will be ruled out through injury once again, with a call on Shane O’Donnell’s participation to be made on Friday evening.
But Fitzgerald refused to name the player he may have to deliver tough news to, explaining: “The most important thing with this set-up is the player comes first.
“I’m not going to risk anyone, if I thought it would cause problems down the road.
“We have one player who got concussed after the Kilkenny game. He’s mad to go but I don’t think we’re going to. He’ll be devastated.
“The player is number one, no matter what else happens. Winning hurling games is number two.”
As Clare aim to win this competition for the first time since 1978, they’ll go into battle without 2013 All-Ireland winners McInerney and Ryan.
McInerney was a revelation at centre back when Clare beat Limerick last month to clinch promotion from Division 1B, with O’Donnell injuring his foot in the same game.
McInerney has been sidelined ever since with a back injury and while Ryan lined out in the quarter-final victory over Tipperary, a calf injury sidelined the Cratloe powerhouse for the Kilkenn win.
Towering forward Peter Duggan could return, however, after playing in a challenge match against Cork last weekend.
Fitzgerald also allayed fears surrounding Podge Collins after local reports suggested that the dual star, recently back to full fitness following a cruciate knee ligament injury, jarred his knee playing for the footballers against Kildare at Croke Park.
On Sunday, however, Collins lined out for the Cratloe hurlers in a club outing and scored 1-2.
Fitzgerald also revealed that he had a frank discussion with Collins at the beginning of the year when it became apparent that the player wished to fulfil a dual mandate this year, having committed exclusively to football in 2015.
He said: “The one thing myself and Podge did at the start of the year, we had a conversation that will remain between ourselves.
“We’ve agreed that we wouldn’t talk about it. We had a good chat. And it might be different to what ye think.”
Fitzgerald is preparing himself for a battle against his former charges Waterford, who he brought to an All-Ireland final in 2008.
After four championship seasons at the helm, Fitzgerald stepped down after the 2011 campaign but still retains a huge affection for the Déise.
He added: “I would have a soft spot for them because I was down with them for a number of years. They treated me very well.
“I can’t say anything bad about them because whenever I go down there I get treated with massive respect and I like that.
“It’s great that you can walk away from a team, part ways and yet you feel good about going down there.
“You can’t really hate them anyway, can you? For 70 minutes, that goes out the door when you cross that white line. Things could be said but I have a lot of friends down there, friends in their backroom team that I’ll shake hands with.”
The most clickbait headline I’ve seen of late
Donal Og must be a genius, this doesn’t sound anything like the Davy we all know and love (or hate) very sensible stuff to be talking about altogether and good to hear that player welfare is being looked at in this way
Ya sur Donal Og is Davys media script writer aswell as backs coach .
Like an auld lady saying:
“did you hear about your wan next door?”
“No”
“Oh I can’t tell ya”.
Why even bother bringing it up then. Still a muppet. But I agree Donal has brought sense to the camp and will be a fine manager in years to come.
Still early days but Donal and Davy are going well. Good to see him being able to back up being a good pundit but championship will be the real test.
Don’t be standing too close , when this one bursts lads, as if he wasn’t an expert in hot air and craving attention, the media are stuffing him as well, Good man Davy, walk straight into it…
1978 is quite some time, great team back in the 70′s tho, hard to call Sunday, hopefully be a good game
Re Podge Collins , ” we had a conversation at the start of the year and we agreed not to talk about it ” says Davy to the nation via the national media , does he realise how stupid that sounds , the man sure does love media attention ( provided it’s all positive of course which it is at the moment )
“We had a conversation at the start of the year and decided not to talk about it… So we did”
Full quote
Dang you mean “so we didn’t”, talk about the conversation that is !!!