Davy Fitzgerald: ‘Unreal' childhood bullying 'made me strong’

He was untouchable on the pitch and has just as tough a presence on the sidelines, but Clare senior hurling manager, Davy Fitzgerald, was once the victim of “unreal” childhood bullying.

The renowned former goalkeeper, who last Sunday led his home county to their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2006, opened up about the years of hidden torment yesterday.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, the star of Clare’s teams in the early 1990s said he was repeatedly bullied and isolated during his school years.