It is strange not to have Davy Fitzgerald involved in inter-county hurling in 2022, although the Clare man is still involved in top level sport.
Fitzgerald is part of the Cork camogie setup this year, becoming part of Matthew Twomey's backroom team. His appointment was somewhat of a surprise at the time, although it didn't take him long to get into the swing of things.
Known for his manner on the sideline over the years, the 50-year old would quickly pick up where he left off in Wexford, getting sent off during the team's league opener against Clare last week after a confrontation with their joint-manager Conor Dolan.
Disturbing Scenes today at the Camogie, The joint Manager of Clare was sent to the line with the Cork Coach Davy Fitz, witnesses close to the scene said Dolan “on crutches” arrived to the sideline in the 2nd half when he arrived there was a flash Point with James “Bomber” Hickey pic.twitter.com/MK0YpioPch
— The Clare Times (@clare_times) February 20, 2022
However, Davy Fitzgerald believes the whole incident has been overblown.
Davy Fitzgerald on Cork camogie red card
Speaking to the Irish Examiner as Cork camogie launched their new jersey partnership, he said that Dolan and himself were laughing over the incident the next day and that it was all down to a 'misunderstanding'.
I’m glad you brought it up, just to clear that up. Myself and Conor Dolan were sitting down the following day and having tea and a bit to eat and a laugh about it. If it was that bad, would we be doing that?
If I’m involved and someone says something to me and I react and say something… In the last few years, nine times out of 10 I haven’t reacted and I’ve had a lot of things where I could have reacted.
But it was a misunderstanding, something I thought was said, that was personal. But I’ve been assured it wasn’t and it was over and done with and there was nobody killed or no one hit.
But when I’m involved, it’s ‘sure look at that lunatic’, or whatever. That’s fine, if people want to think that I don’t care anymore. I just want to be who I am. I am passionate.
As for the transition from hurling to camogie, Fitzgerald has been enjoying the challenge so far.
He has certainly been impressed with the talent within the Cork squad since his arrival.
I’ve always admired Cork and that’s one reason I took the job. I’m delighted they asked me.
I turned down so many teams the last six months, it’s incredible. I had a lot of clubs in since asking me but I wouldn’t do anything else.
I watched the girls for the last few years and just thought, there are different things we can try with them. And we are trying different stuff. When you’re under the radar a small bit you can try different things and the girls are loving it. Well, I wouldn't say they are loving it all the time!
But they are really good, the amount of effort they put in. They are putting in the same time as the men, no doubt about it. They ask a lot of questions. But they want to learn new things.
How many years I’ll be in the camogie I don’t know. I told them I'd do the one, but I’m definitely enjoying my time.
Cork will be hoping that the addition of Fitzgerald will help them regain the All-Ireland title in 2022, having not won the competition since 2018. That is a miniature famine for a county of their calibre, having won four of the five championships prior to that.
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