Driving force Davy can’t be expected to work miracles

DAVY FITZGERALD has stretched this Wexford squad to its very limits in an effort to reach hurling’s top table. No doubt his mind must already be turning in circles as he returns home to his native Clare to contemplate his future role, if any, with the present Wexford hurling set-up.

This after a difficult day, having to face down his native county, with whom he has enjoyed some glorious All-Ireland success both as a manager and player.

So the nagging question now is: Was Páirc Uí Chaoimh and an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Clare the end of the road for Davy?

Only the maestro can give a definitive answer if this is the end of a long two-year haul, with the travelling being a major factor, while also of consequence was Wexford’s failure once again to surmount that quarter-final hurdle.

The journey over the past two years has been punishing and the doubters were quite remorseless at times.

Now the questions will rage. Has he done enough? Has he made best use of the players available? The answer is a polite ‘yes’.

Despite having failed to deliver championship or league silverware, his building of the squad can be deemed a success on so many grounds.

Fitzgerald achieved in one year a target that he was given as a three-year blueprint for Wexford hurling. That was promotion to Division 1A and reaching a Leinster final.

He turned the squad around as, following years of effort under various managers, he achieved the goal of Division 1A hurling, while also importantly, despite the many doubters, he helped them retain their status for 2019. On the championship front he was just one point away from qualifying for a second provincial final.

During his two years at the helm, Wexford have shown a remarkable rate of improvement that brought victories over all the leading counties, with the exception of Tipperary.

We were the only side to gain a victory over Galway in 2017, and while we repeated that victory in the 2018 league, we fell short against the reigning All-Ireland holders in the championship.

That is where we have been taken to on the journey right now. Have we the strength in depth to step up to another level?

Have we the skill levels right through the squad to compete at the top table? Have we the leading players to deliver consistently at the top table? The simple answer is ‘no’.

Maybe now Wexford supporters will realise what is needed to reach the top table, but for the moment we are somewhat short of what is needed, which is amply demonstrated by our failure to surmount the All-Ireland quarter-final hurdle over recent years.

We lost again despite a brave second-half effort. Wexford fell short to a sharper and more skilful Clare outfit. There’s no doubting which was the better team in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Wexford will lay claim to some erratic shooting, and the missing of a second goal chance at a crucial juncture of the game, but really on the evidence of what was placed in front of the paltry Wexford support, Clare, given their ability and composure when in possession to pick off scores, demonstrated the real gulf that lies between Wexford and the top sides. It boils down to the simple art of hurling.

Wexford’s wastage of those chances was no doubt an irritation to Fitzgerald. The chances they had weren’t converted into scores, but it was also disappointing to watch the giving away of hard-won possession through misplaced passes.

It was simply a lack of awareness once in possession. Wexford have a gameplan, but the players are simply not thinking on their feet, with their decision-making too erratic. It was simply not good enough to play a crossfield ball into open space where there wasn’t a colleague in sight for example, or the ball driven straight through the centre where Clare had two defenders to one Wexford forward.

The ability to strike at moments of opportunity distinguishes the best in all codes. Clare were simply excellent in this department.

Whether Davy is present to lead the county into 2019 still has to be answered, but in making his decision he can hold his head high as to the contribution he has made to the game in the county.

Wexford has top flight hurling which is a major achievement. They enjoyed a positive Leinster championship. It was a real learning curve for Davy and the players.

Davy was the driving force. He has proved inspirational.