Eager Davy Fitzgerald ‘can’t wait’ for replay
It might be viewed in some quarters as a nightmare scenario for both teams but Fitzgerald, visibly buzzing at full-time, said that he “can’t wait to go again” as another battle with the county he used to manage looms.
Fitzgerald said: “I can’t wait for the next two, I just can’t wait to go again, I’m really looking forward to it. Great battles between two great teams and I really seriously can’t wait for it.
“That’s what hurling is all about. It was a man’s game out there, toe to toe, and that’s what it was today. We’re delighted.
“Fair play to Waterford, they were the same thing, we had to stand up at the end of normal time and Conor McGrath put over a free that was absolutely incredible and I’m so proud of him and what he did.
“Everything was on the line for us and he did it.”
Waterford selector Dan Shanahan suggested that his brother Maurice was heckled as he stood over the 92nd minute free that ensured a replay.
But Fitzgerald heaped praise on Maurice Shanahan for his sensational effort that levelled matters for the 12th, and final, time.
He said: “And fair play to Maurice Shanahan at the end, he did it when he had to do it. That shows you what hurlers are about and even from a hurling man, I just feel it was a savage game of men to men, toe to toe.
“That’s the way I see it, maybe ye see it different, but that’s how I saw it.”
Eagerly looking forward to next Sunday’s second instalment, Fitzgerald added: “Bring them on, we can’t wait, we’re looking forward.”
When it was suggested that another tussle so close to the championship clash is hardly the ideal scenario, Fitzgerald countered: “No, delighted.
“Play again and if they want to play it again the following week, that’s fine with us too, its all good. We are delighted to play Waterford another two times.”
Fitzgerald also played down his touchline spat with Waterford duo Derek McGrath and Dan Shanahan in the first half.
He smiled: “Ah, isn’t that great boy! That’s what you want.
“Ye’d have nothing to write about if we didn’t have that. You didn’t say anything about me shaking hands with them afterwards, you know?
“It was all good. I’d be no good to ye if I wasn’t like that and I’m sure he’s (McGrath) the same, you know?”
It’s been confirmed that HawkEye will be in place for the May 22 Munster SHC quarter-final between Cork and Tipperary at Semple Stadium — but Fitzgerald doesn’t feel that technology should be fast-tracked ahead of next weekend.
Tony Kelly was insistent that he should have been awarded a point and Fitzgerald reflected: “He’s adamant it was, he’s adamant about a 65 that we all saw was deflected and an official said the same thing, that was it definitely a 65.
“But you know what, and I have to be honest, let the officials sort them things out.
“They’ll get it wrong some days but they’re under tremendous pressure so we’re not going to hammer them over getting one or two decisions wrong.”
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