Darragh Fitzgibbon: Sick Cork stars up all night before Dubs clash

PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for May in hurling, Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork, with his award at PwC offices in Cork. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile 

The bug running through the Cork hurling camp in recent weeks was so severe that a couple of players were getting sick in the dressing room before Saturday’s All-Ireland quarter-final.

Midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon has revealed that not only were teammates bent over toilet bowls in Semple Stadium shortly before throw-in, but they had also been up all Friday night with the illness. Half-back Rob Downey was worst affected and didn’t travel to Thurles, as a result.

Instead of training in their usual Tuesday evening slot this week, management pushed back the session until Wednesday to give the entire camp an extra day apart to try and fully recover from the disruptive illness of recent weeks.

Fitzgibbon said the bug “possibly” explained why Cork were so flat in overcoming Dublin on a 0-26 to 0-21 scoreline.

“That was a thing that kind of went under the radar last Saturday. There was a bug in our camp and obviously Rob couldn't play. But there were a couple of other guys in the dressing room who were actually getting sick before the match. A couple of guys had been up all night as well,” said the 2018 All-Star.

“It was testament to the players who were able to play and who stepped in and did a job to the best of their abilities. That made the result pleasing as well because it was just a matter of trying to win the game and get on to the next one.

“Everyone was back in training (on Wednesday). We took an extra night off training just to give everyone a bit of time away from each other, trying to not let it spread through the camp. It's just one of those things that could happen to anybody.

“Luke Meade was one of the guys who was sick, but he just came in and fitted in seamlessly, and Ciarán Joyce moved back and performed his role as well. They're all kind of things that might go under the radar and it's stuff that every camp tries to deal with, so it was just pleasing the way we dealt with it.” 

PwC GPA Player of the Month for April in camogie, Beth Carton of Waterford Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile 

Another player knocked back by the bug was inside forward Alan Connolly who failed to add to his 4-9 Munster tally in either of the Offaly or Dublin wins. Fitzgibbon, who has struck 0-19 from midfield across Cork’s six outings, has backed the three-point merchant to return to raising flags on Sunday week against Limerick.

“Alan was feeling unwell too. Alan was probably feeling unwell even before the Offaly game. He's had a bit of a rough run of it. A lot has been made by some people of Alan's last couple of performances, but it won't affect him. He's another guy who leaves outside noise on the outside. He backs himself and we all back him. We know he'll be fit and firing come Sunday week.”

 Elsewhere, reigning camogie player of the year Beth Carton has called for shorts to become part of the permitted attire on championship matchday. While motions to allow shorts be worn by camogie players were defeated at Camogie Congress earlier this year, the issue is back on the table. The Tipperary panel have tabled a motion for Monday’s GPA AGM that the players’ body would determine inter-county players’ preferences on the Camogie Association mandated wearing of skorts with respect to their comfort, wellbeing and performance.

“I've never been a fan of the skort,” said Waterford forward Carton.

“I'd wear shorts to training. I've only ever worn skorts for championship matches. I would have always been a fan of the shorts, they are just more comfortable.

“I know there are a few girls alright that like the skort, and they've said that, so there is probably a bit of mixed feeling on it. But for me anyway, I would always have been a fan of the short because what you train in, you should be allowed to play in as well.

“I know the GPA are doing great work to try and make players more comfortable, so hopefully that will happen. The majority do prefer shorts, so I'd be absolutely thrilled if they went that way.”