Davy evolved from a playing icon to one of great bosses
LOUIS MULQUEEN has enjoyed a ringside seat for the continued evolution of Davy Fitzgerald the player and coach.
Mulqueen trained Fitzgerald at under-21 and senior level before teaming up with him in various managerial roles, including for Clare’s shock 2013 All-ireland triumph.
It’s a remarkable run of 38 years at the cutting edge of intercounty hurling for Fitzgerald as a player and a manager.
The Sixmilebridge All-ireland winning manager (1) and player (3 - two county and one club) is in his 16th season as an intercounty manager out of the last 17.
Tomorrow Fitzgerald’s Waterford side face his native Clare and Mulqueen sees a very different person to the one he roomed with at U21 level.
“He has evolved from being a very, very good county player that won everything you could at county and club level,” says Mulqueen (above with Fitzgerald).
“He was a playing legend – club and county – but then to take that step up to winning at senior level then with clubs.
“He has done it with LIT (2005/07 Fitzgibbon Cups) and at inter-county. He is probably a complete package in the sense that you watch Arsenal and you watch Arsene Wenger.
“People say he wasn’t a good soccer player but he was a good manager. This fella (Fitzgerald) was an excellent player and an excellent manager.
“He kind of learned from his own playing days I would think and then applied it to what he wanted in a managerial role.”
Mulqueen reckons the hurt of losing the 2002 All-ireland final was a big driver for Fitzgerald.
“I remember after losing myself, himself and ironically (Brian) Lohan couldn’t eat the dinner,” says Mulqueen. “We were so hurt by losing. That’s what he brings. The elation of winning and what it means when he doesn’t.
“I think that’s part of what he sells as a manager. The buzz of success he got when we won in ‘13 (All-ireland with Clare).
“He would tell me what he was going to do in a game in two weeks and when he executed it, it was bang on what he wanted.
“Some people say you can go over the top with tactics, too many sweepers here, there and whatever. He has a pattern of play in his head. He looks at it to suit the team. To me, he works on it and gets players to buy into that.” THE FIVE LONG SERVING GAA MANAGERS
Brian Cody: Served as Kilkenny senior boss for 24 years, winning 11 All-ireland titles.
Mickey Harte: In his 22nd straight year managing at county senior level with Tyrone (18), Louth (3) and Derry (1). It’s 34 years if you include Tyrone minors and under-21s.
Davy Fitzgerald: This is his 16th year out of 17 managing at senior inter county level with Waterford (4), Clare (5), Wexford (5) and Waterford again (2). Took a year out in 22.
Kieran Mcgeeney: This is his 17th consecutive season at county level with Kildare (6) and Armagh (11). Was a coach with Paul Grimley in 2014 before taking over as boss. Went straight into county management with Kildare after retiring from playing in 2007.
Colm Collins: Finished up last year after 10 years as Clare football boss.