Clare extend Fitzgerald's managerial tenure
The Clare County Board have given a ringing endorsement to Davy Fitzgerald's management, with the Sixmilebridge man set to be in charge of the county's senior hurlers for another three years.
Last month saw Fitzgerald guide Clare to their first All-Ireland SHC title since 1997 and the County Board have reacted by extending the former goalkeeper's tenure as manager.
A message on the Clare GAA Twitter account confirmed that the 42-year-old was 'given a further three years as Clare hurling manager' at a meeting of the County Board last night.
David Fitzgerald given a further 3yrs as Clare Hurling manager
— Clare Gaa (@GaaClare) October 22, 2013
Fitzgerald has been in charge since October 2011 when he was appointed as successor to Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin on a three-year term.
He was asked about Clare's future prospects in an interview in the Irish Independent this week, stating: "Look, Kilkenny is the best team I've ever seen. Tipperary had a stretch there where they played great stuff. Cork in the early 2000s were unreal.
"So, let's not read into this rubbish that Clare are going to be dominant for the next four or five years.
"Every team is going to get bad beatings and Clare will be no different. It's great that there's such goodwill out there for us right now, but I'm a realist.
"I know that's going to change. That said, I'd like to think we'll win more than we're beaten in. And I'd certainly hope that, in the next four or five years, we can get back to another All-Ireland final and win it.
"Will we be trying hard next year to defend our title? You can write it down we will. But there'll be seven or eight teams nipping at our tails.
"The important thing is that no one can ever take away that we are the 2013 All-Ireland champions. That's an unreal feeling."
Meanwhile, Colm Collins, the father of Banner hurling star Podge Collins, will be manager of the Clare senior football team next year.
Collins, who was previously in charge of the county's Under-21s and club side Cratloe, was ratified as successor to Mick O'Dwyer last night, receiving a three-year term with Ger Keane appointed as a selector. The pair will oversee the Clare Under-21 footballers too, but in the opposite roles.
To follow through on the recent stand made by four counties in relation to Cork and Kerry's seeding for the Munster Senior Football Championship, Clare will not be competing in the province's McGrath Cup competition in 2014.
Despite some opposition, that decision was confirmed at last night's County Board meeting. Instead, a proposal for Clare to play in next season's Connacht FBD League was voted in, so the opportunity of competitive early season football for Collins' charges rests on their application to the Connacht Council.
