Fitzgerald riding the Banner rollercoaster back to Limerick

Mark Fitzgerald stepped into Colm Collins’ very big boots last September and lost around a dozen experienced players. So far the kids have done fine. 

NEW MAN IN CHARGE: Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald during the McGrath Cup group B match between Waterford and Clare. Pic: Seb Daly, Sportsfile

When the final tally was counted and the number of departing Clare footballers confirmed at 12, if you had there and then offered new manager Mark Fitzgerald six league points out of a possible eight, well he’d have bitten your hand off for such a positive spring start.

Fitzgerald stepped into Colm Collins’ very big boots last September. He was aware that a small number of players had already signalled their intent to step away from the inter-county scene and had an inkling that a few more would follow the same path.