Player of the Month David Fitzgerald embracing more advanced role for Clare

FURTHER FORWARD: PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for March in hurling, David Fitzgerald of Clare, with his award at his local club Inagh-Kilnamona GAA in Clare. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The only Clare player to have scored in every league and Championship game he has played for the Banner this year?

No, not Shane O'Donnell, not Peter Duggan nor Aidan McCarthy and Tony Kelly - we'll come back to him - has yet to feature for Clare in 2024 but rather David Fitzgerald, their converted point-poacher.

Previously an All-Star midfielder, and a wing-back on occasion, Fitzgerald has developed into a terrific half-forward and is the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for March in hurling.

He has collected a National League medal since then and, more recently, provided the fuel - in the shape of a goal, his third in four games - when Clare hit the afterburners in the second-half against Cork in the Munster championship.

"I'm enjoying being further forward to be honest," said Fitzgerald.

"But as long as you're making the starting 15 as a player, that's your number one really. There was a year or two when I was just making the bench, I didn't make the 26 at another stage so getting back into the 15 was obviously my goal. Keeping that has been a positive.

"When I was brought in first, I think I was brought in as an attacker in 2016. Then we had a bit of an injury crisis in that league campaign and I ended up finding myself at wing-back.

"That was my home for a few years. Then Brian Lohan came in and he kind of pushed me further forwards so that is something that has changed in recent years."

Pushed on what he has done to make his conversion to the attack a smooth one, Fitzgerald shrugged.

"There's nothing that really sticks out," he said.

"I do love the fact that when we have these games so frequently, that if a game doesn't go well then you have a week turnaround and you can park the previous week and just say, 'I can improve on things the following week'.

"And if things did go well, you want to maintain momentum so it is good in that regard."

Fitzgerald, 28, is quickly developing into a marquee talent for Clare and it was partly down to him that they won the league despite being without talismen Kelly and O'Donnell for virtually all of the campaign.

"I guess we had to play our hand a bit in the league with some injuries, Ryan Taylor is a long-term injury and he is a massive, massive player for us as well," said Fitzgerald. "You are obviously missing Tony, Shane coming back (late) as he does, so a lot of younger players put their hands up and were rewarded.

"Then you can factor in the form of the likes of Mark Rodgers who has been outstanding all year and at the back you have (Conor) Cleary at three, John Conlon at six, Davy Mac at seven, they are all key players and their level of consistency has been excellent all year."

With two points currently on the board in Munster, from that win over Cork, Clare will chase wins against Waterford (May 19, Ennis) and Tipperary (May 26, Thurles) in the coming weeks.

It remains to be seen if former Hurler of the Year Kelly features in either game.

"Tony has had a tough time," said Fitzgerald of the Ballyea man who underwent ankle surgery last December. "The amount of times he has carried this Clare team has been an untold amount. Hopefully, we will see him back soon. He is rehabbing as best he can and he's got himself in great shape. We will wait and see how he progresses."