Defending Davy Fitzgerald: No excuse for hurling abuse

I WAS surprised by the letter which appeared in last week’s Arena claiming Davy Fitzgerald was responsible for the abuse by Cork fans at the recent Munster championship match.

Fitzgerald is an outstanding goalkeeper who has an unrelenting passion for Clare and for hurling in general. He has played at the top level for 15 years and in all that time has given every ounce of himself, both on and off the field. Fitzgerald coaches teams both inside and outside Clare — bringing LIT to their first Fitzgibbon, while also managing Ennistymon (a football club) to win the junior A final at their third attempt.

Fitzgerald belts the crossbar when he runs onto the pitch and has a go at opponents, but is this justification for the vile and sustained abuse by a group of Cork fans who should have been reprimanded and removed by the stewards?

The real nub of the issue is last year’s All-star. There is no doubt Donal Óg Cusack is an excellent goalkeeper — I have thought that since he first played for Cork in 1999. In my view, he is not a naturally talented goalkeeper, but rather a man who has utterly dedicated himself to the game and brought himself to his current level by sheer hard work.

Donal Og Cusack had a good season last year, but unfortunately did not win an All-star — this caused such a hue and cry in Cork, where you would be lead to believe it was a travesty of justice, when it was no such thing.

It was a 50-50 call at best.

I’d remind people Fitzgerald is currently in the process of setting a record for championship clean sheets, behind what is clearly an inferior defence.

I heard a member of the Cork County Board on local radio saying the decision was a disgrace and a travesty, and that Cork were considering boycotting the awards ceremony. I have never heard such silliness over something so trivial.

It is not at issue that Donal Óg Cusack is an outstanding goalkeeper and would have been a worthy recipient of the All-star, but it does him a great disservice to use his name in a cheap attempt to have a go at Fitzgerald when Cusack is the one man I have never heard comment on the issue.

A real travesty in All-stars selection was the omission of Brian Whelehan in the same season he was player of the year; or the fact Paul Flynn has only received one selection.

Last year’s decision was merely that — a decision between two supremely talented players at the top of their game.

Adrian MacGrath

Donoughmore

Co Cork.