PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for March in hurling, David Fitzgerald of Clare, with his award at his local club Inagh-Kilnamona. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Responding swiftly to setbacks is crucial in the era of the provincial round robin series.
Having lost to Limerick on the opening weekend of the 2024 Munster Championship, Clare knew the importance and value of the next game against Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
So, David Fitzgerald was delighted Clare survived a stern examination Leeside because there is little time for dwelling on a loss. “I guess, from that point of view, it is great,” Fitzgerald says.
“The Limerick game was a tough one to take. Being up a few points, letting it slip the way we did, but then the fact we had Cork within seven days was great, to dust down the cobwebs, to try to improve things.”
Ultimately, Clare have re-emerged as a serious outfit in recent campaigns under Brian Lohan’s shrewd guidance. “It is quite a competitive landscape,” Fitzgerald says. “Limerick are obviously the dominant force for the last four or five years; they have been the standard bearers.
“Every other team is trying to catch them, in fairness in the Munster Championship and All-Ireland series are quite competitive and good from a neutral perspective. I think that the game is in a really good place at the minute.”
Clare's David Fitzgerald in Munster SHC action. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Following a hectic spell, packed with dramatic matches, Clare are now preparing for upcoming tussles with Waterford and Tipperary on May 19 and 26. Fitzgerald simply relishes the matches. “When you progress far in the league with the new structure, you're on week on week, nearly since February,” he remarks.
“From a players point of view, I know a lot of players say it, and I just want to reiterate it, that is what we obviously want. We want game after game.
“Compared to the old way, when I first started back in 2016, you'd play a game, and if you lost you might have six weeks off for another round. It is way better from a player point of view.”
Clare’s mixture of emerging and experienced hurlers mattered in the Allianz Hurling League triumph according to Fitzgerald. “I guess we had to play our hand a bit in the league with some injuries,” Fitzgerald says.
“Ryan Taylor is a longer term injury and he is a massive, massive player for us; missing him is huge. You’re obviously missing Tony (Kelly), Shane (O’Donnell) coming back as he does, a lot of younger players put their hand up and were rewarded with game time during the league campaign and then you can factor in the form of the likes of Mark Rodgers, who has been outstanding all year and at the back, you have (Conor) Cleary at three, John Conlon at six, Davy Mac at seven.
“They are all key players and their level of consistency has been excellent all year and that has probably been a good catalyst for getting the league title back to Clare.”