Fitzy’s men flying and ready for ‘real deal’

WHEN Davy Fitzgerald took over at the managerial helm in the Déise following the controversial sacking of Justin McCarthy, many pundits both within and outside of Waterford feared that the Clare former Allstar goalkeeper might well have accepted a poisoned chalice.

Just two months down the line, however, and the county’s hurlers are preparing to contest their sixth All-Ireland semi-final since 1998.

Faith in Fitzy’s side has been renewed, and the county and the fans await with expectancy Sunday’s Croke Park showdown with Tipperary.

The players have responded to Fitzgerald’s call for “honesty of effort” in a way that has clearly pleased him.

There was no drawing back in any of exchanges in what was a full-scale challenge between what might be regarded as the A and B squads. And with the B side kitted out in the blue and gold colours of Tipperary this was pretty much the “real deal”.

Fitzgerald, along with his fellow selectors Peter Queally and Maurice Geary, oversaw every movement of every player. With the starting 15 for next Sunday yet to be finalised it was still all to play for as far as the important matter of team selection is concerned.

The sessions finally over it was time to talk to the assembled media and, facilitating as always, the manager comfortably fielded all and every question that came his way.

Taking on the Waterford managerial job was, he accepts, a “mighty” challenge but just two months into it he is more than happy at the way things have gone and the rate of progress achieved.

“Whatever else happens in my life, I have truly enjoyed the past few months,” said Fitzgerald. “I came on board demanding honesty and commitment and I have got that in abundance from players whom I regard as first- class people.”

He said he is well aware that there is no such thing as an easy or happy manager, quickly adding that Brian Cody might dispute that. “However my job has been made relatively easy by the approach and attitude of the players and everyone else involved,” he said, “and to be in the All-Ireland semi-final is fantastic”.

Fitzgerald is adamant too that despite reaching the last four in the race for the Liam McCarthy Cup, this Waterford team hasn’t been given its “due credit”. That was especially true, he said, of the All-Ireland quarter final against Wexford when the team had to pull out all to stops to retrieve what at one stage in the second half looked to be something of a lost cause.

“The players have worked really hard in training and that has been reflected in the last two games against Offaly and Wexford,” he said. “Without the level of passion and commitment shown by them on both days, we would not have survived.”

He was “more than happy” at the response of the players when both these games were in the balance, adding that every win helps to build confidence. However he is realistic enough to know that their performances against the two Leinster sides will not be good enough to beat Tipperary.

“They (Tipp) are a magnificent side, probably the top team in the country right now, along with Kilkenny,” the Banner man said.

“You cannot but admire all that they have done this year, winning the Waterford Crystal tournament, the National League, the Munster championship and going unbeaten through all of them.

“I know what the story in Tipp is. I have seen the passion of manager Liam Sheedy, of the players, and I hope that on Sunday next we will be able to match that passion.”

He believes that, contrary to the opinion of many, the lengthy break since their Munster final victory will be to Tipp’s advantage next Sunday.

“They will be going into the game a very fresh team and knowing that they are just 70 minutes away from the final,” he said.

“We are glad too of the break we have had since beating Wexford, but don’t tell me that Tipp are in any way disadvantaged by not having played since the Munster final. They’ll be all fired up and raring to go and the job for us is to match their intensity.”

Acknowledging that they haven’t set the hurling world on fire since he took over as manager, the Clare man said they have still defied a lot of people by still being in the championship at the semi-final stage.

“Not many people believed we would be after the first-round defeat in Munster,” he said. “There are a lot of teams no longer in the title race who would dearly love to be where we will be next Sunday.’

“That has been made possible through the efforts I have got from every player. It has been first class, and having asked for honesty and commitment from day one, they haven’t let me or themselves down.”

Fitzgerald said he hasn’t always got it right since he took over, but like the players, he is striving to do his best for Waterford. And having sampled All-Ireland final day “first hand” with his own native county, he doesn’t need to be told what victory over Tipperary would mean to Waterford.

“After 45 years since the county’s last appearance in the final, it would be the realisation of a dream for so many people if we can pull it off,” he said.

But will the fact that the county has played in five All-Ireland semi-finals since 1998, and lost all of them, weigh heavily on their minds going into Sunday’s game?

“It will to some extent, and trying to end such a lengthy hoodoo will inevitably put some pressure on us,” Fitzy admits. However he is certain that there will be even more pressure on Liam Sheedy and the Tipp players to deliver, given the weight of expectation behind them going into the game.

“We are happy to be going into the game as the underdog, but we know in our heart of hearts too that if we play to our full potential, we are well capable of getting the right result,” he said. “Our preparations have been as complete as they could ever be, let the battle begin.”