The enigmatic figure that is Davy Fitzgerald has stepped away from his role as Wexford senior hurling manager.
The two time All Ireland winner with Clare, first stepped into inter-county management with Waterford in 2008 and helped The Deise reach the All-Ireland final for the first time in forty-five years. You can here all about his tenure there from the perspective of Dan Shanahan on our Clash Act podcast.
Fitzgerald then returned to his home county, Clare, in 2011 where he gained promotion and managed Clare to win the All Ireland senior title, beating Cork 5–16 to 3–16 in a replay.
In 2016 he joined Wexford and enjoyed a tumultuous run with high and lows. Lows being his eight week ban for an altercation with Niall o’Neara and Jason Forde of Tipperary and highs winning Wexford’s first Leinster Senior Hurling title since 2004 after an impressive 1-23 to 0-23 win over Kilkenny in front of a crowd of 51,842 in Croke Park.
In a statement on the official Wexford GAA website Davy outline his reasons.
“I have informed the County Board that I will not be in a position to continue in my role as Bainisteoir of the Wexford Senior Hurling team. 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. On behalf of myself and my backroom team I wish to thank everyone associated with Wexford GAA for everything over the last five years and I wish you all the very best for the future. Le Croí agus Lámh, Davy.”
Results this season have not gone his way but have lead to some terrific encounters, particularly the Leinster semi final clash with Kilkenny.
We look forward to seeing what is next in his inter-county career.
