Fitzy’s formula a winner in all grades for Banner

Last Saturday marked a second U21 All-Ireland title for Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor, but, watching Clare across the last couple of campaigns, it’s obvious just how much of an imprint Davy Fitzgerald (right) and Paul Kinnerk (below) have had on the way the team plays.

They mightn’t have been manning the sideline in Thurles on Saturday but the short, passing game they introduced to the county in late 2011 has been adopted with great success across the board.

Given 14 of the panel have been doing more training with the seniors this season than the U21s, it stands to reason not only why such tactics have been repeated at the lower age level but that they also look men among boys.

Davy O’Halloran, who scored 1-4 against Antrim, admitted earlier in the campaign just how much of a bonus it had been working in the senior panel.

Fitzgerald and Kinnerk now have more pressing matters to attend to but they’ll be satisfied the philosophies they’ve been preaching are reaping rewards for Clare — and not just at senior level.