Darragh Fitzgibbon delighted to make Cork return
eir Ambassador Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork pictured in Croke Park marking eir’s continued support of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the fourth year of the Poc Tapa Challenge, a competition open to every GAA club in the country, where the fastest team wins €5,000 for their club and the chance to play in Croke Park on semi-final day. To enter, visit @eir.Ireland on Instagram. eir is recognised by Open signal as having Ireland’s No.1 5G network coverage. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Click here to listen to the full interview with Cork senior hurling captain Darragh Fitzgibbon.
By Cian O'Connell
Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon was delighted to return to All-Ireland SHC Quarter-Final action against Offaly.
Fitzgibbon missed the closing stages of the Munster Championship following appendix surgery.
The Charleville clubman, though, started as Cork cruised to a convincing win over Offaly at FBD Semple Stadium. "It was great to be back out there," Fitzgibbon says.
"It was probably something you weren't expecting to happen in your season, but these things happen. It wasn't the end of the world either, it was only a few weeks.
"I didn't miss any knockout matches so that gave me something to work towards, that I'd hopefully be back for the latter stages of the Championship.
"It wasn't easy getting back out there, when you miss three or four weeks, the game is so quick, and the level is so high, that you definitely feel a little bit rusty.
"I was happy to get through it, I got a good 50 minutes so I can finally put it behind me, and move on now for the rest of the season."
An intriguing Croke Park clash against Galway beckons for Ben O'Connor's team on Saturday. "Your first objective of the year is to get out of Munster, and the second is to get to Croke Park," Fitzgibbon says.
"You know you're only two or three games away from what everyone wants to try to win. We're back and it's great to be back.
"Everyone wants to play at Croke Park, that's where all of the biggest games are played, it's nearly a sell out again, and I can't wait for Saturday.
"It's brilliant, a lot of the season is going through hard slog, the wet and the rain, pre-season trying to get fit, better, and sharper.
"It's brilliant to have these moments, looking forward to getting the opportunity to play in Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final."
