DAVY FITZ NOT WORRIED ABOUT HIS NAMESAKE

IN THE week that’s in it, his is the name that will be mentioned more than any other, and yet no one will be talking about him. Davy Fitzgerald is not bothered by the fact it is the former Clare manager (right) of the same name who will hog the limelight on Saturday when he brings his Wexford team to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to face Clare in the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final. It will be the first time that the latter will face his native county in the Championship since departing two years ago after losing the support of a dressing room he led to an All-Ireland in 2013. For his wing-back namesake — whom he called into the Clare panel at the end of 2015 — it will be a surreal moment. ‘It will be unusual alright. But you are playing Wexford, you are not playing against him,’ insists Fitzgerald. And rather than being bothered about sharing the name of one of Clare hurling’s most iconic figures, Fitzgerald tends to play the confusion it creates for laughs. ‘It has happened but not that often. Some lad texted me one day asking for a challenge match,’ laughs Fitzgerald. They have all been playing with a smile this summer, when despite being written off in the Munster Championship, they booked a place in the final. There is a danger, though, that defeat in that decider to Cork after giving up an eight-point lead, could puncture momentum. ‘Lads are still positive. If you told us before the Munster campaign you were going to beat Tipp in Thurles, Limerick and Waterford you would have gladly taken that. ‘Granted we obviously wanted to win it but you can’t look back, you have to look forward.’ Incredibly, Clare have not played a Championship fixture in Croke Park since their famous All-Ireland final replay win in 2013. That is the prize on offer if they beat Wexford and it is one they are determined to grab. ‘You have to earn the right to be there. We haven’t done so over the past few seasons. ‘We have to play well on Saturday and know that’s going to be a huge challenge. ‘Wexford are saying the same, if they get over us they are in Croke Park so it’s definitely something we have to blot out and take this game as it comes.’