Fitzy ‘codding nobody’ on team announcement

Munster Council chairman Robert Frost has rounded on fellow Clare man Davy Fitzgerald for not releasing a team for last Sunday’s Munster SHC semi-final until shortly before throw-in.

Frost insisted he was “very disappointed” with Clare and has called for all counties left in the championship to “stop messing around” and be “up front” when naming teams.

Frost was in favour of a motion demanding that senior championship teams be announced four days before a game, a motion that failed to reach a two-thirds majority at this year’s GAA Annual Congress.

“I was very disappointed with Clare not releasing a team until just before the match on Sunday. It’s not good enough that they can’t release the team to the media and general public, on the Thursday night or Friday night at the very least,” he said.

“I would have a lot of time for Davy but in this day and age, it’s wrong.

“He’s codding nobody only himself. If you have confidence in your team and the people around you, what are you afraid of? And I guarantee you that for the Munster hurling and football finals, the teams will be known by the Thursday evening.”

Frost insisted penalising county boards is not the way to go as they are already under enough financial strain.

He said: “If you put a fine on someone, you’re penalising the wrong people — the county board. They’re trying their best and are already strapped for cash so you don’t want to go down that road. I’d appeal for the qualifiers and beyond that proper teams are named, unless somebody is injured or there’s terrible problems altogether.

“I know that Kilkenny announce on a Friday but not to be releasing a team until a quarter of an hour before the game is not on at all. On Saturday, my phone was red with people giving out to me about not having the Clare team. That is wrong.”