PERFECT FITZ FOR CLARE
Davy oozes pride as Banner set up all-Munster semi
YOU’VE got to hand it to him. He’s not everybody’s cup of tea and many love to hate him.
But when Davy Fitzgerald gets knocked down, he’ll find a way to get back up again. And he believes in himself. He believes in his hurling philosophy, his gameplan, his tactics.
They’ve been called into question time and time again this year but yesterday, Fitzgerald got it spot on as his Clare side beat Galway 1-23 to 2-14 in Thurles.
It could have been a time for gloating but Fitzgerald was calm, measured.
It’s Limerick next in the All-Ireland semi-final, but Fitzgerald wouldn’t be drawn out. That’s for another day. ‘Is it the 18th of August?’ he asked. ‘That’s our day, we have a date with Limerick. The only definite I know is that a team down the west, either Limerick or Clare, is going to be in an All-Ireland final. For hurling, it’s fantastic.
‘Then you have Dublin and Cork in the other one. It’s pretty crazy when you look at things but what a hurling championship. I’m delighted to be part of it. I’m
ALL year long he’s told us to step back and give them time. It was too early, he protested. They needed breathing space.
But Davy Fitzgerald can’t hide the reality any longer. He might have chided Brian Lohan for suggesting it a few months back but Fitzgerald must now accept that his former teammate was right.
Because Clare are genuine contenders for the 2013 All-Ireland senior hurling championship.
There is no escaping the facts. They’re one of four left in the race and with Kilkenny, Tipperary and Galway out of the equation, anybody can win it.
Of course, Fitzgerald installed Limerick as favourites for the All-Ireland semifinal on August 18 but Clare have real momentum through the back door.
They hit 1-32 against Laois, 3-24 in the victory over Wexford and another 1-23 yesterday. Big totals and incrementally improved performances.
Clare have arrived as a serious force and while Fitzgerald’s tactics and gameplan have been called into question on more than one occasion this year, they worked a treat yesterday.
Conor Ryan was drafted in to provide an extra drone and with Patrick Donnellan dropping behind his own half-back line in an ultra- efficient sweeping role, Galway found the saffron and blue wall impenetrable.
It was one of those days for the Tribesmen as Joe Canning hit four wides before he was taken off free-taking duties in the
Fitzgerald saw f lags f luttering
in the breeze
second half. And when Joe doesn’t fire, Galway are in trouble.
Boss Anthony Cunningham had taken the scalpel to the team whipped by Dublin in the Leinster final but the mix still wasn’t right.
Three players were off by half-time and while second-half goals from Jonathan Glynn and sub Niall Healy hinted at a revival, i t was never going to materialise.
Crucially, Clare responded to Galway’s goals with a run of points and while Galway were just two behind with eight minutes left, the beaten Munster semi- f i nalists kicked for home and won at a canter.
All over the field they had heroes as Brendan Bugler’s man-marking job on Canning worked a treat. Conor Ryan beavered to good effect and Colin Ryan slammed over 10 points, including eight frees.
And now Clare are on a roll and who knows, it could be Davy versus Daly on All-Ireland final day. Clare v Dublin would be something special but no matter what the final pairing, it’s novel and symptomatic of a blinding Championship.
It’s very much back to the drawing board for Galway after a desperately disappointing campaign.
Their League form was patchy and that carried into the summer. The warning signs were there against Laois before Dublin carved them open. The Tribesmen were too unsettled and Clare took full advantage.
Fitzgerald’s boys now find themselves in a first All-Ireland semifinal since 2006. And as the 1995 and 1997 winner made his way to Thurles yesterday, he noticed Clare flags fluttering in the breeze in local towns and villages. There’s that old feeling again and Fitzgerald knows it.
And yet it was Galway who opened with two quickfire points from Damien Hayes, one of t heir b brighter i ht sparks, k and dC Canning. i
The first of Ryan’s 10 arrived in the third minute and it wasn’t long before Clare were level at 0-5 apiece. Hayes pushed Galway ahead again but three successive points from the brilliant Pádraic Collins gave Clare some breathing space. Then the goal arrived, brilliantly finished by Conor McGrath after he got the turn on Kevin Hynes. The Galway man endured d dt torrid id afternoons ft against it Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan in the League semi-final and Paul Ryan in the Leinster final against Dublin.
Fitzgerald had taken note and when McGrath got ball in hand in a oneon- one situation with Hynes, he went for the jugular. The bottom corner of the net rippled and Hynes had a yellow card for his troubles as he tried to haul McGrath down.
At the other end, Patrick Kelly did his bit, denying Niall Burke from close range as Galway threatened. But Clare were comfortable at the break, 1-12 to 0-8 clear and cruising.
They kicked on after half-time as Ryan landed his first point from play. Canning struck the post from a straightforward free and would later, inexplicably, bang another one wide from straight in front of the posts. Again, that kind of day.
But Glynn’s 44th-minute goal, which eluded Kelly at his near post, had Clare hearts fluttering. Two points followed and Galway were three behind but Clare hit back, registering the next four. The last of that run, a long-range special from Tony Kelly, was lofted over after Canning was overturned while in possession.
Galway introduced Niall Healy, hat-trick hero against Kilkenny in the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final. Back to the future it might have been but Healy’s first impact was superb as he hung a beauty into the top corner of Kelly’s net.
A point from Joseph Cooney followed and Galway were just two behind but Clare snuffed out the danger. Collins pointed before subs Fergal Lynch and Nicky O’Connell provided scores. Hayes struck again for Galway but Ryan would have the final say with two late scores, one from play and the other a free, to close it out.
It was frantic stuff but Clare were the last men standing. And the way this summer is panning out, you wouldn’t back against them going all the way.