*Davy Fitzgerald. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Sixmilebridge’s Davy Fitzgerald has called time on his five year tenure in charge of the Wexford senior hurlers.
Fitzgerald took on the role after departing as manager of the Clare senior hurlers, a post he also held for five years and included the All-Ireland success of 2013 and National League glory in 2016.
With Wexford, he led the Yellow Bellies to Leinster glory over Kilkenny in 2019 on a 1-23 0-23 scoreline and was the first time the county won the title since 2004. That year, they also reached the All-Ireland semi-final where they faced with Tipperary. Despite leading by three points and with an extra man entering the final ten minutes, it would be Liam Sheedy’s Tipperary that prevailed and they would go on to claim All-Ireland success against Kilkenny in the final.
In his first season at the Model County, Davy helped Wexford secure promotion to Division 1A of the National Hurling League and kept the county in the top tier during his term. Wexford contested their first provincial final in nine seasons in his first year in charge but fell short against Galway.
For the past two seasons, Wexford exited the All-Ireland SHC at the qualifier stage at the hands of Brian Lohan’s Clare on both counts. While in 2018, the Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor managed Clare dumped Davy’s Wexford out of the All-Ireland SHC at the quarter-final stage.
Several Clare men were also involved in Fitzgerald’s backroom team at various stages during his tenure. They included kit man Michael Collins of the Hurlers Cross, video analyst Mike Corry of Clooney/Quin, Cratloe’s James Hickey who acted as a hurley carrier, two-time All Star Brendan Bugler spent a season as forwards coach, goalkeeper coach Noel Considine from Clarecastle, S&C coach Mike Frawley of Kilmurry Ibrickane and Sixmilebridge’s Timmy Crowe.
On Friday morning, the two-time All-Ireland winning goalkeeper confirmed that he had announced the Wexford County Board he would not be in a position to continue as manager.
He stated, “The main reason for this is down to the six hour round trip from my home in Sixmilebridge, which I have done for the last five years. I have never felt closer or happier with any team in all my years coaching and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my five years in Wexford. It has been an absolute privilege and an honour to have worked with every one of the players during my time in Wexford. There were ups and downs, highs and lows, as is the nature of sport, all of which was experienced with a sense of collective pride and enjoyment.
“To the Players, County Board, Clubs and People of Wexford, I wish to thank each and every one of you for playing no small part in every enjoyable second of the journey. From the first meeting in Gorey in October 2016 to last Saturday week in Thurles you have all made me feel so welcome, supported and proud to be involved with Wexford”.
Micheál Martin, Chairman of Wexford GAA outlined, “We wish to sincerely thank Davy and his backroom team for the manner in which they have carried out their duties over their stewardship. Davy’s arrival in 2017 resulted in immediate promotion to Division One of the National Hurling League and a first Leinster Final appearance since 2008. In the last five years we have been consistently competitive, with the 2019 Leinster final victory the standout moment. Davy’s contribution to the activities of Wexford GAA went above and beyond those expected from a Senior Team Manager. Davy is and will always be held in the highest of esteem by all in Wexford GAA”.
