Clare board silent on tunnel altercation

The Clare County Board executive refused to respond yesterday to reports that manager Davy Fitzgerald, Clare Champion journalist Peter O’Connell and Davy’s father, board secretary Pat Fitzgerald, were involved in an altercation in the tunnel following Saturday’s pulsating draw with Wexford in the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers.

The row broke out almost three-quarters of an hour after the full-time whistle when an irate Davy Fitzgerald accused O’Connell of “trying to destroy Clare hurling and succeeding”.

The journalist was standing in the tunnel when the Clare hurling boss emerged from the home dressing room and proceeded to lambast O’Connell’s recent coverage of the All-Ireland champions.