Manager Davy Fitzgerald has stated that he has no hard feelings about losing out on the Galway job to Henry Shefflin.

The former Clare and Waterford manager was in talks for the role with Galway county officials during their process to replace Shane O’Neill but opted for the Kilkenny legend.

Fitzgerald admitted to having a phone call with Galway executives saying;

“They rang me for the chat. I talked to them, we had one or two chats, and it just didn’t work out,”.

“They decided to go with Henry, and that’s it. I’m driving on. I’ve a lot of things to look forward to, and that’s it. It’s very simple for me. It was probably made a lot more out of than it needed to be. But all I can do is wish Galway and Henry the very best of luck.

“Henry got the job at the end of the day. He’d won an All-Ireland club with Ballyhale and was an unbelievable player. This is probably a lot different but I think he’ll do really well. I wish him nothing but the best, there’s no animosity here towards Henry from my side without a shadow of a doubt. I only wish him the best.

“I know they might have said ‘would you not wait for Kilkenny’, but Brian Cody is doing a pretty good job I think. He’s won Leinster again, he’s doing pretty well. You can’t just get rid of someone that’s doing OK so why not let Henry go and do something different?”

Davy Fitzgerald: I thought Galway job was mine https://t.co/kCY1Bcciwn

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) October 22, 2021

Fitzgerald fully understands why Shefflin decided on joining Galway rather than waiting for the Kilkenny job;

“Henry is doing this because he loves hurling and he wants to challenge himself to be better,” he said.

“I think Henry is right to go and do this. He has a very talented team that will be there or thereabouts.

“If you see the amount of Clare players that come and shake my hand after games, it’s incredible. The amount of Kilkenny fellas that will have respect for Henry and know what he has done… They don’t expect Henry to sit on his behind and wait for years [until Brian Cody steps down]. Why should he if he can be involved and do something?

“Is it harder when you come across your own county? Of course. I’m a Clare-man, I loved playing for Clare. But you have a job to do for the day and you do it.

“After that, I’m sure Henry will be shouting for Kilkenny, no matter who they’re playing apart from Galway.”

The 2022 Hurling season will be the first year Fitzgerald will not be involved in a Senior inter-county set-up since he joined up with the Clare panel as a player in 1989.

“I think with me, the appetite will always be there if something takes my fancy,” he said.

“Whether I go back into county management or any management, I don’t know. I probably will.

“If the right opportunity comes up, maybe yeah. I’d love to tell you, I’d love to have a crystal ball and tell you exactly what’s going to happen. Will I miss it? I’ve been involved since 1989 at senior level and this is my first year not in it. I don’t know what the next few months are going to bring and how much I’ll miss it. I might, I might not. I don’t know.

“Whatever happens, happens. I’ve had a great time though, I’ve had an unbelievable time.

“But I just want to take this time and enjoy going to games, and not having to worry about what’s coming next week. It’s been a long time since I got to do that.”

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Davy Fitz has no hard Feelings towards Galway Job

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After a disappointing 2021 championship season where the Tribesmen saw themselves underperform in Leinster, being knocked out by Dublin before exiting the championship by the hands of Waterford in round 2 of the Qualifiers.

This has led Shane O’Neill to leave his post as the Galway senior hurling manager after announcing that he would not be seeking an extension to his term as Galway manager and would leave the position after his appointment in November 2019.

Now, Galway GAA has started to begin the interview process to find their new manager and his backroom staff.

Here at SportsNewsIreland, we have decided to take a look at the potential candidates that could possibly take over from Shane O’Neill going forward.

The Contenders

Davy Fitzgerald

The former Clare and Wexford manager is the nailed on favourite to land the Galway job after leaving his post in Wexford in July after elimination in the preliminary round of the Qualifiers to former team Clare.

As a player for club and county, Fitzgerald won the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship in 1996, two Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship titles in 1995, 2000 and six Clare Senior Hurling Championship from 1989, to 2002 with Sixmilebridge

For Clare, he won two All-Irelands in 1995 and 1997. numerous Munster titles, one National League title and a Munster Minor title in 1989.

He has a proven pedigree in inter-county management, winning a Munster Senior championship with Waterford in 2010, a Leinster Senior championship with Wexford in 2019.

His most successful era was with The Clare senior team winning League and Munster titles before picking up his first and only All-Ireland senior title in 2013, defeating Cork in an all-time classic.

He also went on to pick up the RTÉ Sports Manager of the Year award in 2013.

Anthony Daly

The Clare native is an outside favourite to take over as Galway manager after his last stint in inter-county management when he took charge of the Dublin senior hurling team back in 2008.

He left his post in September 2014, after nearly six years in charge where he won the Division 1 National Hurling League title in 2011 and the Leinster championship back in 2013.

He was appointed manager of Dublin club side Kilmacud Crokes in November 2018 and stayed on until 2019.

Jeff Lynskey

As a player, Lynskey won the All-Ireland Minor Championship in 1994, but it was his managerial stint as the Galway minor manager that gave him the recognition.

He won three All-Ireland titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018 before stepping down. He recently stepped down as the  Galway U20 manager after Galway’s defeat to eventual champions Cork.

While not being as successful at the U20 level but he has proven to be a successful commodity in the Galway hurling scene.

Brian Hanley

The 3-time All-Ireland winning player is the current Galway minor manager after replacing the successful Jeffrey Lynskey back in 2019.

However, the former Westmeath manager has been touted as the next Galway U20 manager before taking the senior job in the future.

Micheál Donoghue

The former Galway manager led them to their first All-Ireland title in 29 years back in 2017 after beating Waterford.

After being ratified for a further two years in the role in November 2018, Donoghue stepped down a year later in August 2019.

His last tenure led to constant rumours of the county board and Donoghue butting heads that led to high levels of tension, leading to his departure.

Donoghue has been touted as the favourite to replace O’Neill but with a fractured relationship with Galway officials, it is unlikely he will move forward in his return.

Next Galway Hurling Manager Candidates

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The news of Fitzgerald’s departure was announced by Wexford GAA in the early hours of Friday morning.

Fitzgerald said;

“I have informed the County Board that I will not be in a position to continue in my role as Bainisteoir of the Wexford Senior Hurling team.

“The main reason for this is down to the six-hour round trip from my home in Sixmilebridge, which I have done for the last five years.

“I have never felt closer or happier with any team in all my years coaching and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of my five years in Wexford.

Davy Fitzgerald's time in Wexford has come to an end https://t.co/ksQhpaDUFk

— The42.ie GAA (@The42GAA) July 30, 2021

“It has been an absolute privilege and an honour to have worked with every one of the players during my time in Wexford.”

“There were ups and downs, highs and lows, as is the nature of the sport, all of which was experienced with a sense of collective pride and enjoyment.

“To the players, county board, clubs and people of Wexford, I wish to thank each and every one of you for playing no small part in every enjoyable second of the journey.

“From the first meeting in Gorey in October 2016 to last Saturday week in Thurles, you have all made me feel so welcome, supported and proud to be involved with Wexford.

“On behalf of myself and my backroom team I wish to thank everyone associated with Wexford GAA for everything over the last five years and I wish you all the very best for the future. Le Croí agus Lámh, Davy.”

Davy Fitzgerald’s time as Wexford manager has been a successful one.

Gaining promotion to Division 1A of the National Hurling League, before winning Wexford’s first Leinster Hurling Championship title since 2004 with a 3-point victory over Kilkenny in Croke Park.

In the 2021 Championship season, Wexford was defeated by Clare in the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers, with Fitzgerald indicating that his time in charge was coming to an end, admitting that the past year in charge of Wexford was ”the toughest” he had experienced in GAA

Wexford’s Response

With Wexford GAA chairman Mícheál Martin stating;

The post Davy Fitzgerald Leaves Wexford appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

He said “As a manager of a team, I will not put one bit of pressure on anyone to play hurling in these times. If they want to play, great. And if they don’t, then that’s no bother whatsoever.” In an interview the current Wexford boss said that the bit of a break allowed him to reflect and for everyone to do so and it was no harm whatsoever. He said, “That bit of time for a bit of reflection was no harm I think for everybody out there,” he said of the lockdown period”.

Fitzgerald said he is just delighted to be back out watching a game. He said, “So I’m just delighted to be back out and seeing a game of hurling again.” In terms of the mental aspect of the game Fitzgerald said it was key for his players during the lockdown. “The mental aspect of this thing was more than anyone would realise and I think it was very important for us and our backroom staff to stay in touch with one another and keep the lads going,”.

The Sixmilebridge man said that it is up to players whether they return to play and that no pressure should come from elsewhere. Fitzgerald also discussed his own personal health. He said ” Naturally, you would worry a small bit but at the same time, it’s my decision to be at matches, it’s my decision to be down training my club team”.

Wexford begin their defence of the Leinster senior title with a game against Galway on October 31st.

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