Fitzgerald will serve out his reduced ban

DAVY FITZGERALD will serve his reduced four-week suspension — despite vehemently denying he verbally abused referee James Owens in Waterford’s Allianz Division 1 game against Tipperary earlier this month.

After a mammoth five-hour meeting with the Central Hearings Committee on Friday night, Fitzgerald presented a strong case against Central Competitions Control Committee-recommended 12-week ban and had it cut by two-thirds.

As his ban starts from last Friday, the Clare native will not be allowed to patrol the sideline for Waterford’s next two league games away to Kilkenny on Sunday and Offaly the following weekend. However, he will return just in time for the final round game at home to Galway, which could turn out to be a battle for a league final spot.