Clare hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald has decided to end his distinguished inter-county career,possibly the best hurling goalkeeper of his generation, certainly the best that i have ever seen, thanks for the memories Davy.
Not always the most popular with non-Clare fans, but definitely one of the most committed, to the extent that the odd time I thought he should be committed! The penalty against Kilkenny a few years back still brings a smile to my face, when the camera panned in and you could see him roaring the words "Come on Sheflin, ya big bollocks ya!".
Hurling section
He was good alright but seemed very cranky.
Hope clare come good again soon, they were some team.
A class act - great motivator.
An integral part of the Clare revolution and in many ways he epitimosed their in your face mentality. a great keeper and a great competitor.
Is this true? I notice it is posted before midnight last night, so it's not an April Fool I take it?
If so, I presume it is because of the hand injury, and it is a shame because he was within a couple of championship games of breaking the record. I never liked him on the pitch, I always though he was a whiney, argumentative wee shite, but I have to say he would be great if he was your goalkeeper. He was the heartbeat in many ways of that Clare team, and epitomised Ger Loughnane's attitude towards hurling and life in general.
Off the pitch, I met him a couple of times, and he was a nice, nice fella. I got the feeling he almost preferred to meet people from outside Clare, as he was subject to some awful rumours about his personal life within Clare.
Anyway, it's definitely a loss to Clare, and his row with Tony Considine last year now takes on a sadder note. Combined with the injury, it seems to have robbed him of a record, and Clare of a talisman and a leader, not to mention the rest of hurling with a pantomime villan. And they are needed too. I hope the injury doesn't stop him playing the golf, and he enjoys the retirement, although to be honest I doubt if it'll be long before he's training a county team himself.
A great goalie and a fiery competitor. After 18 years you cant discredit him. He may have looked like he was arguementative but I think he was just that wrapped up in it all, dont think I saw men as fired up for a game as that Clare team, and Davey was one the players spearheading it. while its only my opinion and not to take from Davey, i would still rate Brendan Cummins higher than Davey Fitz
Quote from: thejuice on April 01, 2008, 09:39:36 AM
A great goalie and a fiery competitor. After 18 years you cant discredit him. He may have looked like he was arguementative but I think he was just that wrapped up in it all, dont think I saw men as fired up for a game as that Clare team, and Davey was one the players spearheading it. while its only my opinion and not to take from Davey, i would still rate Brendan Cummins higher than Davey Fitz
Was talking to a Clare selector from the early part of the decade, he told me Davy was like that in training. Fierce competitor to the extent of being a complete f**king nutjob once on a pitch. Apparently a sound enough man off it
Quote from: Tippfan on April 01, 2008, 10:39:21 AM
Quote from: The Claw on April 01, 2008, 12:46:16 AM
Hurling section
Do you own this place or something?
Hurling topic, we have a hurling section, makes sense no?
I had the privilege (and misfortune) to be trained by Davy last year for one session. He's a psycho. The intensity at the session was unbelievable, doesn't stop shouting for the full hour. Great drills, great motivator. He says
'Lads, I guarantee ye no team in the country is training at this intensity', and I well believed him.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 01, 2008, 09:32:11 AM
Is this true? I notice it is posted before midnight last night, so it's not an April Fool I take it?
If so, I presume it is because of the hand injury, and it is a shame because he was within a couple of championship games of breaking the record. I never liked him on the pitch, I always though he was a whiney, argumentative wee shite, but I have to say he would be great if he was your goalkeeper. He was the heartbeat in many ways of that Clare team, and epitomised Ger Loughnane's attitude towards hurling and life in general.
Off the pitch, I met him a couple of times, and he was a nice, nice fella. I got the feeling he almost preferred to meet people from outside Clare, as he was subject to some awful rumours about his personal life within Clare.
Anyway, it's definitely a loss to Clare, and his row with Tony Considine last year now takes on a sadder note. Combined with the injury, it seems to have robbed him of a record, and Clare of a talisman and a leader, not to mention the rest of hurling with a pantomime villan. And they are needed too. I hope the injury doesn't stop him playing the golf, and he enjoys the retirement, although to be honest I doubt if it'll be long before he's training a county team himself.
What record AZ?
I think it's the record senior championship appearances for Clare, or maybe for anyone. Can't remember which. He was a game or two away I think. It's just a vague recollection of something I read back when he fell out with Considine.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 01, 2008, 01:42:58 PM
I think it's the record senior championship appearances for Clare, or maybe for anyone. Can't remember which. He was a game or two away I think. It's just a vague recollection of something I read back when he fell out with Considine.
I think its was Christy Rings record of appearing in 63 consecutive championship matches although I'm open to correction on this one! I think he was something like 3 games away from beating it.........................
That could be it alright GallaimhIarthair. I know there was something around the time that Davy was 'retired' last year.
Was gonna say was it not the record for most championship appearnaces in history..rather than consecutive appearances
That could be it too Two Hands. I didn't think the record was off the agenda when he missed last year. Can anybody clarify?
From Wikipedia. A bit ambiguous in that it doesn't mention consecutive appearances. If it is total appearances, then his injury must be playing up.
QuoteIn 2007 FitzGerald sensationally walked away from the Clare senior hurling team after disagreements with the new manager Tony Considine. As a result of this FitzGerald playe dno part in the 2007 championship and was replaced as goalkeeper by Philip Brennan. Because of this he was denied the chance to equal and surpass Christy Ring's record of 64 appearances in championship games.
Get lost 'the claw', the forum says 'GAA discussion' & i thought this deserved its place under that banner as the man was one of the greats of the game of hurling & GAA as well, therefore i feel that the entire GAA board should have the oppurtunity to read about his retirement, now go away & try to find fault with some other thread!
Read his book. Was in disbelief when reading about him trying to break into the first 15, he found out what route the incumbent keeper drove to work in the mornings. He made it his duty to be out pucking the ball for this Doyle lad to see in the mornings to show him he meant business.
He was a great character of the game, a guy I didn't particularly take to but after reading his book I got more respect for him.
Quote from: mournerambler on April 01, 2008, 05:53:05 PM
Get lost 'the claw', the forum says 'GAA discussion' & i thought this deserved its place under that banner as the man was one of the greats of the game of hurling & GAA as well, therefore i feel that the entire GAA board should have the oppurtunity to read about his retirement, now go away & try to find fault with some other thread!
Wow, Jeez just thought this was a hurling matter so it should be on the hurling forum, where the 'entire GAA board' could still read about it. Don't see the point in having the hurling divide if something like this isn't on it, but hey, if it means that much to you, fair enough.
its just that no one reads the hurling section and this fitz gibbon ? williams ? gearld? fella would retire unnoticed.
i have never said i don't have any regard for hurling. i just object to people forcing it upon me to further their own agenda s opposed to the collective good.
Did Davy give any particular reason for packing it in ? Tired - no motivation ? other things to do ? Wants to be a manager now ? Injury ?
legend
Quote from: orangeman on April 02, 2008, 09:47:21 AM
Did Davy give any particular reason for packing it in ? Tired - no motivation ? other things to do ? Wants to be a manager now ? Injury ?
I didn't hear his statement, but he had a serious hand injury, I believe a finger was almost severed during a game, and he was due to hear the prognosis regarding his ability to hold a hurley properly long terms recently. Maybe that had a bearing, I can't see him giving up this year for any other reason, given the fact that he lost a year last year, and was mad keen to get back in this year.
The announcement highlighted the finger injury as the problem. however, Davy said a cople of times on des cahill last night that he was still playing away with the club and never mentined the finger. Am i wrong in saying there hasn't been any official word from clare to cmment on davy's retirement? surely it'd be worth a couple of minuts of tony considine's time?
Always poking aroun'
Quote from: Uladh on April 02, 2008, 10:23:44 AM
The announcement highlighted the finger injury as the problem. however, Davy said a cople of times on des cahill last night that he was still playing away with the club and never mentined the finger. Am i wrong in saying there hasn't been any official word from clare to cmment on davy's retirement? surely it'd be worth a couple of minuts of tony considine's time?
Tony Considine is gone from the Clare setup this year, the rug was pulled out from him after he fell out with Davy. Mike McNamara is the current Clare manager, and would be a Davy man. I don;'t think there's anything in the way of a falling out if that's what you are thinking. I know the finger was serious, but I'd say Davy will continue with the club for a while anyway.
Sorry az - i meant Mike Mc of course.
This fundamental lack of knowledge is yet another reason why hurling should remain elevated inits own section...
This fundamental lack of knowledge is yet another reason why hurling should remain elevated inits own section...
Nobodys getting at you Uladh...
I'm getting at myself...
Quote from: dodo on April 01, 2008, 07:18:35 PM
Read his book. Was in disbelief when reading about him trying to break into the first 15, he found out what route the incumbent keeper drove to work in the mornings. He made it his duty to be out pucking the ball for this Doyle lad to see in the mornings to show him he meant business.
He was a great character of the game, a guy I didn't particularly take to but after reading his book I got more respect for him.
Respect !!!!!!!! Pure class.
QuoteQuoteRead his book. Was in disbelief when reading about him trying to break into the first 15, he found out what route the incumbent keeper drove to work in the mornings. He made it his duty to be out pucking the ball for this Doyle lad to see in the mornings to show him he meant business.
He was a great character of the game, a guy I didn't particularly take to but after reading his book I got more respect for him.
Respect !!!!!!!! Pure class.
Although a touch psychotic! Fair play to him anyway. Sad to the end of one of the Association's characters on the national playing stage and a real pity that it ended the way it did.
Ahhhh Ten years ago .....
Not much has changed in the opinion about Davy but nobody said on the thread they had visions of him becoming a good amnager which in fairness he has!!
Quote from: Unlaoised on April 04, 2018, 03:11:41 PM
Ahhhh Ten years ago .....
Not much has changed in the opinion about Davy but nobody said on the thread they had visions of him becoming a good amnager which in fairness he has!!
I said it wouldn't be long before he was training an intercounty team :)