‘Davy’s doing everything to help us win’

How many times must it be said? Managers can win matches, but they can also lose them.

Yes, the final responsibility in any game rests on the players on the pitch, but who chooses them, who gets them ready to play, who decides on tactics and game plans? No one knows that better than the players. No one is in a better position to assess what their own manager is doing. That’s why Clare’s Colin Ryan has a better appreciation than most of Davy Fitzgerald.

“Listen, love him or hate him, and I suppose that is what the Clare supporters do in general and there is no in-between, Davy is a passionate Clareman,” he said.

“I am under no illusion, Davy wants Clare to win. We all have a common goal, the players and management, and he is doing everything possible to make that possible for us. Ultimately, that is exactly what I want from a manager. He’s a great person, a great leader, it’s great to have him on our side.”

One of the criticisms levelled at Davy is that he has this extremely talented group of young players on his hands but is restricting them, dictating a game plan and won’t let them play their own game. Rubbish, says Ryan.

“People can say what they like. Davy goes out and sets us up in a way that we can try and win and we all believe in that. You can’t tie down those young lads. You can’t tell them to hurl in a specific way. I am sure he didn’t tell Paudge Collins to hand pass the ball behind his back [in the quarter-final win against Galway]. The lads go out and hurl with freedom.

“Fair enough, there are systems in place, but at the end of the day when you have the ball and you are trying to score, you have to make decisions yourself on the field. He gives us the opportunity to do that.

“Listen, they said Jim McGuinness was wrong until he went and won an All-Ireland. It changes very much when you win. We’re going out to win. That’s all what we want to do.”

Without question Davy Fitz has fantastic talent to work with but no more than the great Mick O’Dwyer in Kerry, no more even than the equally great Brian Cody with Kilkenny, there is nothing automatic in that. Those players do not manage themselves and as many another county has found to its cost — not least Limerick — success at underage doesn’t mean senior success is sure to follow.

Colin was a member of the Clare U21 that won the county its breakthrough Munster and All-Ireland titles four years ago.

“Again, being so close to the coal-face over the last few years as Clare struggled to come through he knows better than most the pitfalls that can follow.

“The Clare fans are great hurling supporters who have been without success for so long. When it does come along I suppose they get excited, they expect senior success to follow. It doesn’t necessarily happen that way. Some lads it happens for quicker than others and some teams it happens for quicker than others.

“It’s very hard to put your finger on what was wrong.

“We are over the couple of years now where it didn’t work out for us and we’re looking forward to this.

“When it does happen you have to take the opportunity and really go with it.

“We’re lucky to be in a situation where we’re in an All-Ireland semi-final. We’re in with a 50-50 chance and happy to be there.

“I’m sure there’ll be great craic on the trains, the fans all happy and talking to one another but rivalry is rivalry and while it’s all talk, it’s when you go out on the field that it matters.”

Not entirely though, not entirely.