Davy Fitzgerald blasts RTÉ for portrayal of sideline histrionics

Davy Fitzgerald has criticised RTÉ for their selective footage of the maverick Clare boss on match-day.

Fitzgerald railed against RTÉ for constantly highlighting his over-zealous sideline behaviour, adding that while the camera is in close proximity during his moments of excitable expression, it is nowhere in sight for the remainder of games.

The All-Ireland winning manager has studied Clare games televised by RTÉ and said he featured, on average, for two of 73 minutes per match, more often than not the two minutes where he is going “absolutely nuts”.

As a result of a heart scare back in 2009, Fitzgerald, addressing a physical and mental health seminar at LIT earlier this week, admitted to wearing a heart monitor every time he steps onto the sideline.

The 42-year-old is required to keep his heart rate below a certain level, proof positive, he claimed, that he cuts a composed figure during games, contrary to the image created by RTÉ.

“You will see me on television and say this fella is nuts, absolutely off his game. You will see me two minutes of 73, that is how much RTÉ will show me for. That is fact if you really time it back. They will pick the bits that they want where I fight for my decision,” he argued.

“I have proven with my heart rate monitor that my heart rate is unreal for 95% of a game. I have to be thinking properly because I have to be in a good place for my team which I think is very important.”

Fitzgerald stressed the importance of visualisation on the part of inter-county managers ahead of key championship fixtures, providing an intriguing insight into his method of preparation prior to a game.

“I used visualisation when I was playing, (and) I use it as a manager. Starting 10 days before a game I will do three 20-minute sessions each day where for the first five minutes I will sit down and close my eyes and just see nothing, totally chill out. For the next 15 minutes I will visualise everything.

“As a manager I will visualise how I am going to be with different players. I will visualise the message I want to get across all week — whether it is tight or not, you really have to be on your player and give him no space; I want the ball hit into this space and not hit into that space. I will be making up these messages all the time building up to a match.

“I will visualise how I am going to be the day of a game, how I am going to fight for my position and then bring my heart rate straight back down afterwards because I do wear a heart rate monitor all the time. Visualisation helps me so much. The one thing I would suggest to any management is give yourself that bit of time to work on your mind, it is as good as any training you will do. If you’re mind isn’t right you’re finished, no matter what your sport.”

RTÉ defended their decision to consistently air footage of Fitzgerald’s sideline antics. “It is par for the course that the most entertaining elements of a game be shown, even those which take place away from the action,” said a RTÉ spokesperson.

“Davy is a passionate man and of course we will show the moments where he is getting excited, that goes for all managers. We want to show the viewer the most exciting parts of a game, no broadcaster anywhere in the world will show the viewer the boring elements of a game.”

Meanwhile, former Clare hurler Daithí O’Connell has labelled Fitzgerald a clown in the wake of his comments that alcohol and substance abuse was a problem in the Clare senior hurling panel in the middle of the last decade.

O’Connell, who featured on the Clare team between 2003-07, tweeted on Wednesday: “Undecided about my pre-training meal tonight, a bag of charlie [brown heroine] or three disco biscuits [MDMA]? Which ever I decide I’ll wash it down with a vodka.”

Other Clare hurlers have called on Fitzgerald to clarify his comments so each player who operated in the saffron and blue during the alleged period of alcohol and substance abuse are not tarnished with the one brush.