Fitzgerald calls criticism of him and his family ‘shame’ after loss of Clare

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Davy Fitzgerald was moved after Wexford’s loss to Clare in the All-Ireland Hurling qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

2-25 to 2-22 was the final score at Semple Stadium and the result saw Wexford’s year end prematurely.

Speaking to OTB Sports full-time, Fitzgerald began by congratulating his own players, saying they couldn’t complain about the outcome.

“I’m extremely proud of them, whatever I ask them to do, they will.

“To be completely honest, I have nothing but admiration for the Clare crew and wish them the best for the future.

“We have nothing to complain about, we lost two games, we could have won them and we didn’t, we have nothing to say except fair play to Clare.”

Clare was leading 1-12 to 0-4 after just over 20 minutes of play and it looked like it could have been a hammer blow.

Fitzgerald said their complacency in the early stages was what caught them, but praised his team’s character for returning to the game.

“I thought we played pretty well, I’m just really disappointed with the first 15 minutes.

“I know if we played [for] the first 15 minutes we would have been there and we were there.

“The soft goal we gave at the end, I felt like we were going to stick one in the net there, it was only a matter of time.

“We did, but it was just a little too late.

“Heart and mind, that’s what GAA is about.”

The result crowns a difficult week for Fitzgerald and his family.

County Clare Council, of which Pat Fitzgerald (Davy’s father) is secretary, has come under heavy criticism following Clare Minor’s 40-point loss to Cork on Wednesday.

Fitzgerald thinks much of the reaction has been unfair.

“The way my family and I were treated is an absolute and utter disgrace.

“The way I’ve been feeling all week, I didn’t even know if I wanted to get into this game, to tell you the truth.

“In Clare, the biggest problem we have is a small bunch of people creating problems, they think they’re helping but they’re not.”

Fitzgerald then called for unity among the people of Clare GAA, saying they must work together for the good of the county.

With Fitzgerald’s future at Wexford unknown after another early exit from the All-Ireland Championship, he also hinted at possibly working with people from his hometown again.

“I’m a simple person who loves GAA, I think I’m one of the many who have played for Clare GAA.

“My father, of whom I am extremely proud, did an incredible job, the amount of abuse, sticks and criticisms he received unwarranted is not, not justified.

“People have siblings, moms and dads, people have people who care about them and what Clare’s media has done is absolutely disgusting.

“What people on social media have done is disgusting.

“What one or two people, one or two clubs did, instead of looking at each other and how they can make it better, they tried to get us to a place where they don’t need to be.

“We have to stop, we have to work together.

“I’ll tell you right now, for Clare’s sake, 110%, if anyone had a date with me and Brian Lohan in the morning, I would.

“I might not like Brian Lohan and the way he does things, but we shouldn’t be against each other in Clare, if Clare is to be successful they all have to be together.

“Would I put him to bed? Say it right away, get up in the morning and go talk to anyone, shake hands and put him to bed, 110%.”

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