I took the Clare post to win games, not friends

The Possession Game

When first introduced by Newtownshandrum on the club scene, then adapted by Donal O’Grady for Cork, the so-called ‘possession game’ caused major controversy and divided hurling fans. For traditionalists it was the ruination of what had always been a completely spontaneous game, for those watching the progression in other sports it was the way to go. Now the debate has spread to Clare but already, even after only a few months in the job, Davy Fitzgerald has had enough of it.

“I’m absolutely sick to the teeth of listening to people going on about this,” he said. “I’ve heard so many reactions to it. One day in Cusack Park I heard someone in the stand (criticising the short game strategy) and I reacted because I’m f***ing sick of it. The team actually gave into it in the end; against Wexford they started pumping high ball down on the forwards. I have it at home on DVD and there’s seven high balls cleared out of our defence and we lost all seven. The old traditional guys don’t have a problem with this because they think we have to play hurling the same way we did back 20 years ago. That is fine; if you want to keep getting the same results then keep doing that. I’m just not a believer in that, I’m a believer in trying to win games. Some days it works, some days it won’t.”