Search Results for 'Davy Fitzgerald'

In September 1997 Clare beat Tipperary in the All Ireland final by a point, 0-20 to 2-13. So when Davy Fitzgerald, who was the best goal-keeper in the country in those years, after watching his side suffer a heavy-nine point defeat to Galway last Sunday evening said: "You don't win any championships in the month of February", it would have been rude not to nod sagaciously and agree.

The Galway hurlers will take on Waterford at 2.30pm this Sunday at Pearse Stadium. It is the first time these two teams have met since the Déise sensationally snatched victory when a Galway win looked in the bag last summer in the All-Ireland quarter final.

I said last week that a shock could be on the cards in Semple Stadium last Sunday. Okay it didn't pan out that way in the end, but at various stages of both quarter-finals it sure looked like happening. Cork and Waterford move onto the semi-final stages after cracking encounters with the former out to upset Kilkenny's 3 in a row dream on August 10. Over the last decade these two sides have stopped each other from completing this marvellous feat, it's a bit like the song Lanigan's Ball “one stepped in....", they will once again as in '04 relish the opportunity to repeat the trick and set up an All-Ireland appearance. Cork judging by their prematch get-together, obviously feel the world is against them. It's the first time I've seen everyone step outside the confines of the playing area for the National Anthem. They are well within their rights to do so but you're only bringing notice to yourself. Both the Clare and Wexford players were probably kicking themselves last Monday morning for letting a good chance slip by. You would have to acknowledge Cork's persistence to stick at it when all looked lost at half time. They once again proved that they have the bottle and they know how to both wear down a side and finish off a job - this is a trait that both Clare and Wexford lack.

Justin McCarthy would have had a wry smile on his face last Sunday afternoon. As you all know he resigned from his post as the county team’s hurling manager a number of months ago after a “heave” from his own players. It had become apparent, in the wake of a heavy defeat to Clare in the Munster championship, that some of the players were unhappy with McCarthy. Much was made of Dan Shanahan storming off the field that day and refusing to shake Justin’s hand when substituted. As in that game big Dan was totally anonymous last Sunday, barely touching the ball, until he was rescued from the action or, should that be non-action! I wasn’t too enamoured with the Waterford players at the time as I felt it was another example of player power being exerted, something that has become quite common this year. Remember it was McCarthy who took Waterford to three Munster titles and also to the brink of All-Ireland glory. It wasn’t his fault the players choked when so near the finishing line. They had the perfect excuse last year. The system militated against them, they said, as they had played three consecutive Sundays in a row. The manager is always the easy scapegoat after failures and these players must have felt the need to apportion blame to someone. Justin is obviously a proud man. He walked before it got ugly and, other than issuing a brief statement at the time, he kept his powder dry. I am not sure if he went along to Croke Park last Sunday, but as the game unfolded he would have felt fully justified in having walked from the job when the players had the audacity to question his methods after seven relatively successful years in charge.

Standing in Paric Lactain in Freshford last January watching a young, fit Antrim side lower Kilkenny's colours in the Walsh Cup didn't leave anyone too upset, most people acknowledged that our warriors had just returned from what is now their annual team holiday and that it would take a few training sessions to shake off the cobwebs. Being honest, Kilkenny fans knew that this bunch of Kilkenny players would bust a gut later in the year to land the 3-in-a-row but I don't think anyone could have envisaged exactly what lay ahead for Kilkenny hurling.

Ruby Walsh adorns the cover of the Irish Racing Yearbook 2009, published this week — and the Galway Advertiser is giving away copies to racing fans in an end of year competition.

Well readers, we are getting close now, the gloves are off and the candidates are heading for the finishing line.

Well readers, we are getting close now, the gloves are off and the candidates are heading for the finishing line.

The Leinster hurling draw last Sunday evening saw Kilkenny and Galway both get the short straw. The pairing of these two counties at this early stage would not be ideal for either team or the association as a whole.

The past week proved that Kilkenny's stranglehold on Leinster hurling is as strong as ever.