Fitzhenry marking time as a summer of freedom awaits
So it is this year with Wexford’s Damien Fitzhenry. In 1993, still a teenager, he made his senior debut, a National Hurling League quarter-final against Westmeath; July 11 last year, in a monsoon in Wexford Park, he played his last competitive match between the posts for the Yellowbellies, as Wexford lost a critical All-Ireland qualifier against Limerick.
At 34 years of age, three Leinster titles, two All Star awards and most precious of all, an All-Ireland from that magnificent season of 1996, sharing a place with the likes of the Rackard brothers, Nick O’Donnell, Jim English and other such true legends of the game on the all-time Wexford team chosen locally in 2002, he felt it was time to walk, no regrets.