POST MATCH TALK:When the shooting stopped after a breathless Munster semi-final in Thurles, it was as if everyone remembered the subplot that had at times overshadowed the main narrative.
Waterford have made a habit of coming up against former managers in the championship in recent years and yesterday it was the turn of the most recent incumbent, David Fitzgerald, to face his charges of last year with his native Co Clare.
His successor Michael Ryan reflected on a heart-stopping victory with great satisfaction after a difficult start to his tenure. He denied his predecessor had played any role in the preparations.
“I can honestly say we scarcely mentioned Davy in our dressing-room. The only things we can control are the things we do ourselves, we didn’t get caught up in anything else – and in fairness to Davy, he didn’t get involved in that either.
“It was a real tough Munster championship battle and I was delighted to come out on top. There were times when the game seemed to be slipping away from us in the last six or seven minutes. They were on the crest of a wave and they’re a very fit, formidable side.”
Was there any intent in the reference to the county’s last Munster championship performance under the baton of Davy Fitz?
“It’s a big result for us, there’s no two ways about it. The last time we played in the Munster championship we lost by 21 points in the Munster final. We had a poor enough start to the league campaign, we were missing a lot of lads, but we’re getting fellas back now, we’re seeing the benefit of getting fit, we’re seeing the benefit of good training and preparation in a hurling and a fitness sense.”
For his part, Fitzgerald belied his combustible reputation by saying little about the questionable penalty that helped to turn the tide in the first half – beyond inviting his interviewers to form their own conclusions. Asked about the apparent goading of him by John Mullane at the end of the match, the Clare manager was again restrained, not to say magnanimous.
“I think John Mullane was told something that was untrue. Listen, I have no problem whatsoever and let me say this 100 per cent on the record – John Mullane is one of the best players I’ve ever seen, and John Mullane has another two or three years in him, big time, if he wants.
“Sometimes people tell players things to get them riled up and to perform in a game. I have a lot of respect for those guys in there .”
He wasn’t sure whether experience had been the vital influence in the end.
“I don’t know was it the last 15 minutes. I just thought the two goals were killer punches to us but I thought we showed good character to come back well after it. I’d be very proud. Did we give ourselves a chance to win the game? We did.
“We’re there or thereabouts. There’s a lot of experience in Waterford and we stood up to it fairly okay. Today might not be our day, or the next day, but I’ll tell you one thing, we’ll keep trying – and I know them lads won’t give up too easy.”
Eoin Kelly, who had been at the centre of the penalty incident when he fouled Clare full back Cian Dillon – the first infraction un-noticed and the second penalised – wasn’t trying to argue black was white.
“Oh, it had to be a penalty.” Pause. “It was a free out first! The referee had a good game. There were no big decisions going one way or the other. We won – that’s the main thing.”
Seán Moran
