Latest news with #DavyFitzgerald
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Donegal a victim of 'rushed' championship, writes Darragh Ó Sé
Donegal's six-day turnaround before their quarter-final against Monaghan on Saturday? 'They are 100 per cent right to be annoyed,' says Darragh Ó Sé, player welfare trailing again behind the needs of 'the money men in Croke Park and the TV companies' . And it's all caused by a brilliant season 'being rushed through… like we've opened a two-grand bottle of wine and we're swigging it from the neck'. But, no, those Croke Park concerts can't be pushed in to September, because 'it might rain on Oasis' or 'Robbie Williams might have to wear a jumper'. The Dubs, though, have seven days to rest their weary bones after playing Cork, Gordon Manning hearing from the legend that is Barney Rock about their meeting with Tyrone - who beat them by seven points in the league back in March. In hurling, Davy Fitzgerald is not unfamiliar with run-ins with officialdom when he's pacing up and down the sideline. A possible solution to all this aggro? Why not 'take the management off the sideline and put them in the stand, the same as rugby does,' he suggests to Gordon. Seán Moran, meanwhile, is reflecting on the Dublin hurlers' startling win over Limerick , a 'seismic shock' that our tactical analysis maestro Jeffrey Lynskey examines. READ MORE In rugby, Gerry Thornley hears Ronan O'Gara back off a touch from his ambitions to coach an international team , while his old mucker Gordon D'Arcy reflects on his own Lions experiences - including his name being accidentally omitted from the squad announcement in 2005. 'An inauspicious start, but a start nonetheless.' Angus Fontaine brings the view from Australia ahead of the tour, Joe Schmidt's crew heartened by the Lions' loss to Argentina. 'It put blood in the water and proved the tourists are beatable.' Happily, there's no blood in the water at all between Dan Sheehan and Ellis Genge. ' He's definitely someone that surprises you that he's not a dickhead ,' says Sheehan of his old foe. 'It's mad how fast you can go from despising people to hanging around to go for a coffee with them.' The magic of the Lions, that. And ahead of Ireland's tests against Georgia and Portugal next month, John O'Sullivan hears from attack coach Mike Prendergast who talks about the input Andy Farrell will still have on team selection for the games, despite being a bit busy down under. In football, Keith Andrews faces a daunting but thrilling challenge after agreeing a deal to become manager of Premier League club Brentford , and we talk to Crystal Palace defender Hayley Nolan ahead of the Republic of Ireland's friendlies against the United States. And in racing, Brian O'Connor tells us that the bookmakers reckon Tennessee Stud is the biggest Irish Derby threat to Lambourn . Tennessee Stud is trained by Joseph O'Brien, Lambourn by his Da Aidan. A family affair. TV Watch : If you'd like to see what talent is coming up through the ranks of four of football's big shots, then tune in to today's semi-finals in the under-21 European championships. At 5.0, defending champions England play the Netherlands (Channel 4), and at 8.0 Germany meet France on a channel called 4Seven which some of us are still trying to find on our telly boxes.
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Davy Fitz explains emotions after winning battle for clarification over reports
Davy Fitzgerald says he is happy to be vindicated after a clarification was published in a Sunday newspaper over reports from 2021 over his time as Clare manager and the hurling supporters' club. Fitzgerald's legal team posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, 'Pleased to secure this important clarification on behalf of our client Davy Fitzgerald. Integrity is critical in sporting and public life and Mr Fitzgerald is satisfied that his good name and reputation stands vindicated'.The post also included a statement from the Sunday Independent that read: 'In March 2021 a series of articles were published in the Sunday Independent concerning Clare hurling, two of which included references to David Fitzgerald, former Clare manager, and his 2018 biography, At All Costs.'Those articles reported on potential divisions in Clare hurling, and the separation between Clare County Board and the hurling supporters' club active between 2012 and 2016, including extracts from Mr Fitzgerald's biography.'Medahuis, publisher of the Sunday Independent, is happy to clarify that, in discussing those subjects, the articles did not contain, not were they intended to contain, a suggestion of dishonesty on Mr Fitzgerald's part'.Speaking about the clarification yesterday, the current Antrim boss admitted it was a "big thing personally" after a four year ordeal for himself and his family. Fitzgerald explained: "To have to wake up on a number of Sunday mornings and read stuff that affects you and your family, and for there to be insinuated certain things against you, is hard to take. "But I made a decision there and then that I wasn't going to let that go. Some of my friends have said to me, 'We know what the story is, don't bother'."I couldn't let that go and I'd like to thank my legal team, who were absolutely unreal for the last three or four years. I'm happy with the vindication. I'm happy it's done."Did it hurt? There are probably two things that hurt me in the last number of years. That was one of them. When some people would actually think that that might be true, some of the stuff that was insinuated, that was terrible. "But I'm glad that it's out there. It was tough not to deal with it at the time, to come out roaring and screaming, but I wanted more than that."My legal team knew everything and they were very happy to go as long as it took to do it. I'm delighted for the family as well that people get to see that side and it means a lot to me."Fitzgerald's father, Pat, stepped down as Clare secretary in 2022, a year after taking a civil case against a social media website. Davy revealed that his father had intended to step down in 2018 to pursue another opportunity but had to stay in his role because of the case. "I would have actually loved to see him gone then and he probably would have himself, but he's happy," said Fitzgerald. "I think he kind of said on Sunday that, 'Do you know what now, that's that'." And the former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper agrees with that sentiment. "It's just nice for people to know what the story is because when stuff is put out there and you wake up on a Sunday morning and you and your family are reading stuff, that's not right," Fitzgerald said. "I think you can see it with me, I'm not actually bitter or anything like that anymore. I'm just glad it's done. It's over now. And that small little group of people, some of the things that were done, not good."Fitzgerald also mentioned the hurt he felt when, while in charge of Wexford in 2020 against Clare, he says he "got absolutely abused personally" by a member of the Clare backroom team."That's not right," he said. "No one should have to put up with that. And it was during Covid, some of my friends said to me afterwards that you could hear it on the television."I suppose the only thing on that day was nearly every single member of the Clare team came up to me afterwards and shook my hand, which meant the world to me."The one thing I said to myself afterwards about these two things is that it's only a very small minority, a few powerful people, that were probably behind this campaign."I look at the supporters in Clare, the Clare players, they're absolutely top class. The clubs in Clare, top class. I've benefited from the clubs in Clare, I won an All-Ireland because the clubs in Clare did their job and I'm so proud."But that did hurt. That campaign hurt. That clarification meant the world because you don't get them too easily, I can tell you that."But you know what? It's done. It's closed. I want to forget about it now. I'm happy with that. But it's over now and it's move on. But I'm delighted to have persisted with it, to have got that." *Davy Fitzgerald was speaking at the launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in aid of GAA-related charities at Michael Lyng Motors (Ford) in Kilkenny
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Davy Fitz interview: Sambo, Antrim, rugby's GAA solutions & All-Ireland climax
Davy Fitzgerald says he has "unfinished business" with Antrim - but remains unsure about his future as he prepares to meet with Saffron bosses in the next 10 is adamant that he has made progress with the players since his appointment on a two-year deal last August, although they finished bottom of the Leinster SHC round-robin series with no wins and were relegated to the Joe McDonagh tenure drew criticism from Antrim legend Terence 'Sambo' McNaughton on the eve of the crucial final fixture against claimed that Fitzgerald threw the county's players and clubs 'under the bus' by saying he was 'going to teach the Antrim hurlers how to walk again'.Fitzgerald says now that McNaughton is entitled to his opinion but that he remains disappointed with the timing of the comments."Right now, there's no bitterness there," claimed the Clare man. "A small bit of disappointment, but no bitterness. The amount of clubs that rang me in Antrim after the Offaly game would surprise you, big clubs - and I'm delighted that they did. It meant the world to me. "Even aside from there being any potential personal element to it, it seemed fairly self-destructive from an Antrim man to do that interview in the week of such a big game for Antrim."Listen, it just was disappointing. That's all. You just don't need it. It probably hurt me a bit more because I really would have liked him and when you go into a county, the most important thing you need is backing. So I was just a bit disappointed. But it's over now, it's done."There was a lot of pressure on the Offaly game. But I was so proud of our lads. That day, 14 men after a few minutes, playing with a storm, it took us a small bit of time to settle and get into it, but we played unreal against a storm. "Offaly were red-hot favourites to beat us that day. What the lads showed that day was unreal - and it would give you hope for the future."There were certain times during the year, I looked at the lads and things we had worked on, and people said to me it wasn't a great year, but I could see certain points where we were doing stuff that was great."I was really proud and those boys can hurl. And all of us together, management and the panel, we gave everything."Fitzgerald turned down the chance to stay with Waterford last summer because he needed a break but, five weeks later, he was persuaded to take the Antrim has loved working with the players - "as good lads to train as you'd ever train", said Fitzgerald. "We identified five or six different areas. We worked on them consistently. Did they improve in those areas? I think if you ask them, they did. Are you going to do it in four or five months? No. But we knew that coming in. "Are the results a lot different to where they were in the last few years? Not really. They were in relegation against Carlow last year. A man sent off, it could have gone any way. The year before, it was Westmeath. They got relegated the year before that."It's the same type of result, right? But I did actually enjoy working with them. The clubs, I have to tell you, top-class. Even the support. The calls I would have got even after the Offaly game from some of the clubs in support, brilliant. County board, top-class. So, they're the pluses."But it meant taking on close to an 850km round trip two or three times a week - and there were times when, Fitzgerald admits, he struggled with that side of it."I struggled with the travel, 100%. This was different gravy compared to driving to Wexford or Waterford. And I'm very conscious that Colm is 27, 28 now and Daithí Óg is three. I missed him like crazy every weekend. "But their enthusiasm, I actually love them up there. I know we had Sambo being a bit negative, that's going to happen and you accept that. But I got a lot of support up there."It's a big decision going forward, I need to sit down and have a right good chat. I left myself alone after and I didn't want to think about it, but now I've started to talk to a few people. I've done a report."Myself and (his wife) Sharon need to have another conversation about it. There has to be a number of boxes ticked from my point and from their point. "Unless Davy Fitz is 100% in it with his drive and his goal, he's no good. I need to make sure that's the way, to make sure I'm OK with the travel. The county, how they are to me, it couldn't be better. "I love being a part of them boys. Do I think if I was to stay for the next two or three years that it could make a difference? Yeah. I'm saying that. I'd be very confident." ***************** Davy Fitzgerald wants to cut out the conflict between managers and match officials - and says the GAA can do it by introducing a rugby-style coaches box and better Antrim boss was slapped with an eight-week ban for 'misconduct considered to have discredited the Association' after he was charged for comments criticising match official Johnny Murphy after the Saffrons' Leinster loss to Galway in claimed that he was 'despised' by some match officials and he took aim at Murphy, who was a linesman in the game where Antrim's Declan McCloskey was sent off in the first half for an off the ball incident. "Most of the people in the stadium saw exactly what happened," said Fitzgerald yesterday. "Was it the difference between being beaten 20-something points and maybe being beaten by 10 or 12 points? 100%. "There should have been two gone in that instance. I asked at half time, did you not see the second one, and I was aggressively told something which I did not like. "Had I run-ins with Johnny Murphy before? I had. Did I tell lies afterwards? I didn't. I said what I felt. That was it, got my suspension. Does everybody get treated the same way? I don't know. I got a suspension last year - I didn't abuse Liam Gordon last year. "I look at other things that have happened this year. I'm not going to comment on it. I could pick different examples. I'm not saying I don't deserve it at times, I'm saying that it has to be across the board."Fitzgerald insists that it is time for change after a number of incidents where managers or backroom staff have confronted match officials."It shouldn't be them and us," declared the Clare man, who has had a number of high-profile run-ins with referees over the years. "You have seen confrontations. Apart from me, you have seen it."Even outside of the Munster final, you've seen different other things that have happened. I could pick another two games where there has been roaring and shouting at referees."I'll always get picked out. That's grand, I don't mind that. How do we try not for that to happen? It's easy saying Davy is giving out to referees - what I'm trying to say now is maybe there's a solution to this."He argues that what the management teams want to see is consistency from officials and this is where his proposal comes is a big fan of the communication channels that are used in rugby, where head coaches talk to the referee in the week leading up to a game to get clarity over how they want to officiate certain aspects, and in the days afterwards they can talk to a referee's chief about how incidents were dealt would love to see that introduced in the GAA, along with an independent panel to work alongside referees chiefs to review incidents. Fitzgerald says that has spoken to a number of referees the day after games. "Some of the referees are incredible," he said. "They'll talk to you the next day. Do you know what? That makes you feel a lot better. I've asked them questions and said, 'I got that wrong', or else they've told me what they've seen and I've said, 'OK, I kind of didn't think that'. It allows you an avenue where you can have a chat and do it."I'd love to see the night before or before the game that you have 10 minutes with him and he says to you, 'This is what I'm looking for, A, B, C and D.' There's dialogue there. There's chat. "In rugby, you can talk to the referee days before the game. I like it. You have an idea even what way to train the team because you're looking at it, I think that's sensible."I think the following day, if I want to ask the referee, 'listen, that call, can you just explain to me what you saw?', there should be a channel at least."Fitzgerald is also a big fan of the rugby-style coaches boxes and would love to see them introduced in intercounty GAA games, with a runner allowed on the sideline to make one or two changes per commented: "Do we need to be on the sideline? Is it just to be seen? Everyone would probably think that I'd love to be in there. No, if it would make life easier for the referees. You look at the Andy Farrells, they have their information there and their stats teams. "I'm trying to think outside the box and see if there's something that would help this whole situation - communication channels opened, take management off the sideline and allow roam runners." Davy Fitzgerald was on the Dublin bandwagon well before their shock All-Ireland quarter-final win over Limerick. He was hugely impressed by the Dubs in their Leinster championship win over his Antrim side at Corrigan Park. "If you looked at my interview afterwards it was very calculated where I said they were unreal organised," he said. "I felt they were different than I had seen Dublin in a long time. "I remember saying it down at home and Sharon kept saying to a few people, 'you said Dublin was probably as good a team as you came across this year.' I thought that he (Niall Ó Ceallacháin) had them very organised. "We knew having watched them in the first Championship game or two that they were working the ball out and Chris Crumley was getting a lot of ball and they were building with him. "We tried to pressurise them hard, they still found a way to get the ball out. They were able to do short, they were able to do long, I've been massively impressed by them." Fitzgerald can't wait for the All-Ireland semi-finals the weekend after next as Dublin take on Cork and Kilkenny prepare to face Tipperary. "Do Dublin have a chance? Yeah. I think any of the four teams have a chance," he said. "Cork have the slight edge, Kilkenny, can they win it? Yeah. It wouldn't shock me if any of the four won it. I couldn't pick a winner now. "It would be unreal if Dublin won it. As a neutral, it's great. It's f***ing great. Let's have it." *Davy Fitzgerald was speaking at the launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in aid of GAA-related charities at Michael Lyng Motors (Ford) in Kilkenny
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Davy Fitzgerald mulls over Antrim future and calls for major GAA sideline shake-up
DAVY FITZGERALD is still weighing up his Antrim future. And the Advertisement 2 Ian O'Connell from Killarney, Kerry, who received a modified Ford at the launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge from Antrim manager and All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge ambassador Davy Fitzgerald 2 Davy Fitzgerald has mulled over his Antrim future before calling for a major shake-up in the GAA In the wake of his side's The Limerick man was a linesman on a day that saw Antrim's Delcan McCloskey sent off. Fitzgerald, who was charged with 'misconduct considered to have discredited the association', was subsequently slapped with an eight-week suspension. The former Waterford boss also served a ban for his first game in charge of Antrim back in January — the National League clash with Dublin — for confronting ref Liam Gordon after the Déise's defeat to Clare last year. Advertisement read more on gaa Speaking at yesterday's launch of the Circet All-Ireland 'Did I tell lies afterwards? I didn't. That's how I felt. I said what I felt. That was it and I got my suspension. 'Probably the thing I'll ask is does everybody get treated the same way? I don't know. I got a suspension last year. I did not abuse Liam Gordon last year. 'I'm telling you that right here, right now. I did not abuse him. I look at other things that have happened this year. Advertisement Most read in GAA Hurling 'If you look at certain things and you look at the Waterford-Clare game last year, I got a suspension for that. 'I could pick different examples. The only thing I'd like to see, and I'm not saying I don't deserve it at times, I'm not saying that. Tomas O'Se calls out GAA's mid-season rule change but fellow Sunday Game pundit disagrees 'I'm saying that it has to be across the board.' Opening channels of communication between officials and managers would help to address inconsistency in refereeing, according to Fitzgerald. Advertisement Another suggestion he believes could 'make life easier for referees' would be a requirement for bainisteoirs to watch games from the stand. The Clare native explained: 'Take the management off the sideline and put them in the same as rugby have it. 'But allow yourself a runner that if you want to make one or two changes in the first half, second half, do it. "Even if you have your stats crew and your management up there and you have your own place, you look at the Andy Farrells, you look at them, they have their information there.' Advertisement Fitzgerald also admitted that he would be open to the introduction of video technology if it assisted referees in making the right calls. He said: 'Refs are human. They're going to make mistakes. 'I'd love to see a situation, if they're not sure about something, wouldn't it be nice? 'I'm not saying you do this every two seconds, but I know in one of the games that I saw at the weekend, if the ref had a second opportunity to look at it, I think he'd have made a different decision. Advertisement 'If he's in doubt, help him. That's all.' Fitzgerald, who was named Antrim manager last August, only has positive things to say about his working relationship with the players and the county board. Despite their relegation to the Joe McDonagh Cup, as well as criticism from respected Antrim figures like Terence 'Sambo' McNaughton, Fitzgerald also insisted that he has received significant support from clubs in the county. However, the three-time All-Star goalkeeper plans to discuss the matter with his wife Sharon and county chairman Séamus McMullan before deciding if he will take on the considerable travel commitments again next year. Advertisement The 53-year-old said: 'I actually love them up there. 'I know we had Sambo being a bit negative and stuff. That's going to happen and you accept that. 'But in general, I got a lot of support up there. I love the people the way they are. 'It's a big decision going forward. I need to sit down and have a right good chat. Advertisement 'I left myself alone after and I didn't want to think about it when it's over. But now I've started to talk to a few people. 'I've done a report. Myself and Sharon need to have another conversation about it. I'll meet Séamus. I'll have a good conversation with him. That's important. 'There has to be a number of boxes ticked from my point and from their point. 'Unless Davy Fitz is 100 per cent in it with his drive and his goal, he's no good. Advertisement 'I need to make sure that's the way. I need to make sure I'm OK with the travel. 'The county, how they are to me, it couldn't be better. So that will come in the next weeks. But I love being a part of them boys. 'Do I think if I was to stay for the next two or three years that it could make a difference? 'Yeah. I'm saying that out loud. I'd be very confident.' Advertisement ANTRIM FUTURE On Fitzgerald's watch, Antrim preserved their Division 1B status. However, their three-year stay in the Liam MacCarthy Cup ended after they lost to Offaly in a de facto relegation play-off. On the prospect of staying on for another year, Fitzgerald added: 'Would I be disappointed in myself if I didn't do a second one? I would. Advertisement 'But health wise, family wise, I want to do the right thing — whatever that right thing is. 'In the last week or so, I've started to really think about it. Over this next ten days, I will and I'll try and do the right thing. 'But the right thing has a few different factors. That's genuine.' l DAVY FITZGERALD attended the launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in Michael Lyng Motors, Kilkenny. This year's Challenge, in aid of GAA-related charities, takes place at Killarney Golf and Fishing Resort on October 16 and 17 Advertisement
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Davy Fitzgerald says he gets ‘picked out' by referees, but he has a solution to suit both sides
Davy Fitzgerald believes removing GAA managers from the sideline and accommodating them in a coaches' box in the stand would stop the potential for flashpoints with match officials. The Antrim hurling boss was recently hit with an eight-week suspension for comments made about linesman Johnny Murphy in a post-match interview following Antrim's Leinster SHC defeat to Galway last month. It is not the first time the Clare native has found himself navigating the GAA's disciplinary system, but there have been several other incidents between coaches and match officials this summer – including a half-time ruckus in the Munster SHC final between Cork and Limerick . 'I could pick another few games this year where there has been roaring and shouting at referees,' says Fitzgerald. READ MORE 'I'll always get picked out, that's fine and that's grand. I don't mind that but maybe there's a solution to this – take the management off the sideline and put them in the stand [in a box], the same as rugby do. And allow teams to have a runner if they want to make one or two changes. 'Do we [managers] need to be on the sideline? Is it just to be seen? Everybody probably thinks that I love to be there. No. If it would make life easier for the referees [it should be looked at].' It's not Fitzgerald's only suggestion in terms of addressing the topic of match officials and their relationship with managers. 'I'd love to see the night, or a few days before a game, that you have 10 minutes to chat with the ref and he can say to you, 'This is what I'm looking for, A, B, C and D'. There's dialogue there, there's chat,' adds Fitzgerald. 'You have an idea even what way to train the team; I think that's sensible. Then, the following day after the game, if you could call the referee [and ask], 'listen, that decision, can you just explain to me what you saw?'. There should be a channel of communication at least. 'The only other thing I'd like is an independent panel to work alongside Donal Smyth (head of referees). 'I'm trying to think outside the box to see if there's something that would help this whole situation – keep the communication channels open, take management off the sideline and allow runners. I think that'll stop a lot.' As for his suspension, Fitzgerald was annoyed at the decision of referee Thomas Gleeson to only send off Antrim's Declan McCloskey following a tussle with Galway's Tom Monaghan. Murphy alerted Gleeson to the incident. Fitzgerald approached the match officials at half-time. In his post-match interview, the Antrim manager claimed: 'Johnny Murphy wouldn't have any time for me anyway. Everybody knows that himself and one or two more of them, they actually despise me and that's fine, I can get over that.' Ian O'Connell received a modified Ford at the launch of the annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge in Michael Lyng Motors, Kilkenny. Also pictured are Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald, Liam Daniels, Vanessa Cunningham of Circet, Michael O'Connell, Rose Murphy and Michael Lyng. Photograph: Matt Browne/Sportsfile Fitzgerald subsequently received an eight-week ban for 'misconduct considered to have discredited the association'. 'There are a few things that bother me about this,' says Fitzgerald. 'Were we going to beat Galway on the day? No. 'But was it the difference between losing by 20-something points and maybe losing by 10 or 12 points? One-hundred per cent. 'There should have been two gone in that instance, that's what should have happened. I asked at half-time, 'Did you not see the second one?' And I was aggressively told something which I did not like. Had I run-ins with Johnny Murphy before? I had. Did I tell lies afterwards? I didn't. That's how I felt. I said what I felt, got my suspension. 'I look at other things that have happened this year [where nobody was punished]. The only thing I'd like to see and I'm not saying I don't deserve it at times, I'm not saying that . . . I'm saying that there has to be consistency across the board.' Whether Fitzgerald will be back as Antrim manager next year remains to be seen. He admits the journey from Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, to Belfast took its toll over the course of his first season at the helm of the Saffrons. However, he has not ruled out a return to manage Antrim in 2026. 'I'll be meeting the chairman in the next 10 days. Did I enjoy working with the lads? One-hundred per cent, I love being a part of them, they are as good a group of lads to train as you'd ever train. 'The clubs in Antrim are top-class. The calls I would have got even after the Offaly game from some of the clubs were brilliant. The county board is top-class. They're the plusses. 'On the other side of it, did I struggle going up there? I struggled with the travel, 100 per cent. 'And I suppose I'm very conscious that Colm is 27, 28 now and Daithí Óg is three. I missed him like crazy every weekend. 'It's a big decision. Unless Davy Fitz is 100 per cent in it with his drive and his goal, he's no good. I need to make sure that's the way, I need to make sure I'm okay with the travel. But I love being a part of them boys. 'Do I think if I was to stay for the next two or three years that I could make a difference? Yeah, I'd be very confident.' – Fitzgerald was speaking at the launch of the 24th annual Circet All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge, which takes place at Killarney Golf and Fishing Resort on October 16th and 17th.
