Tipp game the perfect examination for Fitzgerald

He faces his own assignment in Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight but Ger Fitzgerald isn’t the only member of his household preparing for exams today.

This morning his daughter Laura starts her Leaving Cert, while her sister Kim commences her Junior Cert.

Fitzgerald does not need anyone to stress to him the significance of these educational tests and that has helped in his role as Cork U21 manager.

They must plan for tonight’s Bord Gáis Energy Munster quarter-final against Tipperary without senior star Darren Sweetnam, who is focusing on his second-level studies. Yet the flip side is that corner-back Colm Spillane will complete English Paper 1 in St Colman’s (Fermoy) today before journeying to take his position in the Rebels rearguard.

“We’d never put any pressure on players in this situation,” says Fitzgerald.

“We leave it entirely up to them. With Darren and Colm, they were two players I identified very early in the year that I’d like to be involved. I contacted them, told them to have a chat with their parents and do what they were comfortable with. I respect their decisions. With my own daughters doing exams, I know that it’s a very important time for young people. We also have Colm Barry and Kevin Kavanagh amongst our subs who are doing the Leaving Cert, while Rob O’Shea is another student who was unfortunate not to make our squad.”

Fitzgerald is excited by the prospect of another U21 campaign. It is a competition that increased in significance and prominence in recent years.

They may have lost out in last August’s epic final against Limerick but Fitzgerald was fully aware of what a special hurling night it was.

“There was obviously fierce disappointment to lose out but when you think back, you realise what a game it was to be involved in. It was a fantastic hurling game. The quality of hurling in the U21 competition is extremely high. It’s a real cut and thrust stuff with the knockout element to it and that adds to its excitement.

“Teams don’t have a lot of time to prepare and the focus is firmly on the games. I think the games being live on TG4 has helped show to supporters around the country how high a standard of hurling it is.”

The Cork management have cast their net wide in the search for players. Some like Conor Lehane, Damien Cahalane and Jamie Coughlan were obvious inclusions on the back of their presence in Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s senior squad. Others like Lisgoold attacker John Cronin, who did not feature at minor level for Cork, put their hands up for selection on local stages.

“You can never just go on who played in the minor grade,” says Fitzgerald. “Different players develop in different ways and not everyone gets an opportunity at minor level. John Cronin was a player who had a really good innings with CIT last year on the team that reached the county senior championship final. He put his hand up then and maintained that form on the team that reached the Fitzgibbon Cup final in March. It’s great credit due to him and he’s also played for the Cork U21 footballers this year, winning a Munster medal with them.” Tonight’s opponents Tipperary have helped serve up enthralling encounters with Cork in recent years. Fitzgerald is not expecting anything different.

“It’s going to be a tough game, they have some fine players to call on. But we’re very much looking forward to it. The attitude and preparation of the players has been excellent. We’re really happy with how things have gone for us over the last week or two. The senior players were busy with Jimmy (Barry-Murphy) and the lads until May but they’ve come back in with us and helped to raise spirits. We’re looking forward to it.”