Regan: Davy’s ranting will cost Clare an All-Ireland

Former Offaly hurler Daithi Regan believes Davy Fitzgerald’s attitude towards match officials will end up costing Clare an All-Ireland title.

The pundit slammed the Clare manager for his post-match comments on Sunday and claimed he shouldered Cork selector Kieran Kingston during the game.

“He needs to be very careful what he says after games. He needs to be very careful about what he does on the sideline because I’ve heard enough people talk about passion and the drive. Well I’m having none of it. I’m sick to death of it, to be honest. He will cost this Clare team an All-Ireland final yet.

“When referees and sideline men go in at half-time for 15 minutes very simply they don’t talk about the weather. They discuss what was going on.

“I watched him closely yesterday. He has a fantastic young team. Do not bring them down, pal. Because I’ll tell you what, he walked by Kingston yesterday along the sideline with his hands on his hips and put his shoulder into him lightly but he put his shoulder in. Clare were leading by four points, I looked at the scoreboard and (thought) ‘what are you at?’

“He berated the linesman, he berated (Brian) Gavin every time he came anywhere near him.”

Speaking on Newstalk’s Off The Ball last night, Regan also defended Gavin’s performance. He acknowledged his fellow Offaly man made mistakes in the first-half but said he had an “impeccable” second-half.

He also hit back at Ger Loughnane who questioned Gavin’s fitness on The Sunday Game, describing the former Clare manager’s comments as “disgraceful” and “way out of line”.

Meanwhile, Anthony Daly has been re-appointed Dublin manager for a sixth season in charge. The Clarecastle man this year led the county to their first Leinster title since 1961.