Davy Fitz: 'In a perfect world, I’d manage Clare forever'

Facing his home county as Waterford manager this Sunday, Fitzgerald admits that task is never easy.

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Waterford and Tipperary at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald says Clare have the players to win an All-Ireland but doesn’t “know why it hasn’t happened”.

Ahead of the counties’ Munster SHC Round 4 clash in Ennis, Fitzgerald admitted to The Clare Champion  that it’s always difficult facing his native county and return to being a Clare supporter “once it’s over”.

The county’s 2013 All-Ireland SHC winning manager said: “There’s no better feeling than donning the saffron and blue and playing for your family, your club and the people of Clare. It won’t be easy on Sunday but I’ve a job to do and that job is to give 110% for Waterford.

“I can’t do it any other way. It’s not in my make-up. In a perfect world, I’d manage Clare forever, but that’s not how things work out and I could never pass on an opportunity to work at the top level of the game and that’s why I’m Waterford manager.” 

Fitzgerald has not overseen a championship win over his own county since 2010 during his first spell in charge of Waterford. Since then, he has been on the wrong end of the result on four occasions – 2018, ’20 and ’21 with Wexford and ’23 in charge of The Déise.

Cusack Park might not be as much of a fortress for Clare as they lost there for the second successive opening championship fixture last month but he anticipates they will be fired up to follow up their win over Cork with another couple of points.

“It’s a tough task playing this Clare team. I honestly believe they have the players to win an All-Ireland and I don’t know why that hasn’t happened. For Waterford, it’s the fifth year trying to get out of the round robin. It’s just about instilling belief in them as we have some real quality hurlers too.

“We’ve been working so hard and we’ve tried to explore different ways of playing. We’re unbeaten but we’re still improving and there’s no doubt that we will need to step up another level on Sunday.” 

Fitzgerald comes up against his former Wexford coach and former half-back Brendan Bugler at the weekend. He envisages Clare’s rearguard tightening up because of the Whitegate man’s expertise.

“To be honest, half of those goals Clare conceded (six in two games) were avoidable and I’ve no doubt that Brendan Bugler who is an outstanding coach with a brilliant defensive background will make sure they don’t leak goals. We just need to keep the scoreboard ticking over.” 

Sunday should see another of Fitzgerald’s former charges John Conlon surpass him as the player with most number of senior hurling championship appearances for Clare with 61. “I’m absolutely delighted for John. What a servant to Clare hurling he has been.”