Fitzgerald: Clare’s win over Kilkenny won’t count for anything if we don’t deliver in championship

Derek Lyng’s Cats beat the Banner by three points in Croke Park last summer.

David Fitzgerald of Clare is tackled by Paddy Deegan of Kilkenny. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

For Clare, beating Kilkenny in the league was never going to banish the All-Ireland semi-final demons but it could stop them from expanding.

David Fitzgerald was Man of the Match in Cusack Park on Sunday as he notched five points in a deserved victory. He maintains there was no talk about what happened last summer before throw-in because no matter how the contest unfolded, it wouldn’t be relevant for the upcoming championship. Last July, Derek Lyng’s outfit beat Clare by three points in Croke Park.