Davy FitzGerald
Encyclopedia
David Fitzgerald is an Irish
hurling
manager
and former player. He is a former manager of the Waterford
senior hurling team.
Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all-time, Fitzgerald enjoyed a hugely successful playing career at club level with Sixmilebridge
and at inter-county level with Clare
. He was a key member of the latter team during the 'golden age' of the 1990s and collected two All-Ireland
titles, three Munster
titles and four All-Star
awards. Fitzgerald also claimed All-Ireland
and Munster
titles at club level.
Even during his playing days Fitzgerald became involved in team management. He has served as a coach to every team in his home club of Sixmilebridge while also bring Fitzgibbon Cup
success to Limerick Institute of Technology
. Fitzgerald was appointed manager of the Waterford senior hurling team in June 2008.
club in Clare. He has much success with the side, winning virtually every honour available at club level. In 1989 FitzGerald was just breaking onto the senior team when 'the Bridge' won the Clare SHC. Three years later in 1992 and 1993 he was a full member of the team when Sixmilebridge captured back-to-back county titles. Two years later in 1995 FitzGerald claimed another county title, before winning his first Munster club championship. On St. Patrick's Day, 1996 he captured his first, and to date his only, All-Ireland
club medal. Another county title followed in 2000, which itself was converted into another Munster title. FitzGerald captured his last county medal in 2002.
in a National Hurling League
game against Down
in February 1989. He was 17 years-old at the time. The following year he became the number one choice for goalkeeper on the senior team, making his Munster Championship
debut against Limerick
in 1990. At the time Clare hurling was in the doldrums, however, within a few years FitzGerald's side would become one of the most feared teams in the championship. In 1993 and 1994 Clare suffered back-to-back Munster final defeats to Tipperary
and Limerick
respectively, however, in 1995 Clare came from nowhere to win their first Munster title since 1932. In the game against Limerick FitzGerald ran the length of the pitch to take a penalty. Following his conversion of the penalty FitzGerald ran the length of the pitch again to defend his goal-line. This goal was included in RTÉ
's Top 20 GAA Moments
television programme in 2005. In the subsequent All-Ireland final against Offaly
FitzGerald, who was earning a reputation as one of the most reliable goalkeepers, fumbled a Michael Duignan
goal into the back of his net shortly before half-time. In spite of that mistake Clare won the day and FitzGerald collected his first All-Ireland
medal.
In 1996 Clare dramatically lost their Munster and All-Ireland titles in a first-round meeting with Limerick. Clare were back in 1997 with FitzGerald winning a second Munster title following a defeat of Tipperary. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Clare and Tipp met again, however, it was FitzGerald's side who collected the title following a one-point victory. In winning the 1997 All-Ireland final Clare beat Cork, Kilkenny
and Tipperray - the big three of hurling. In doing so they became only the second team ever, along with Waterford
in 1959, to achieve this. In 1998 FitzGerald claimed his third Munster medal, however, following a bizarre three-game battle with Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final, Clare, the red-hot favourites to retain the title, were knocked out of the championship.
The following few seasons proved difficult for FitzGerald and Clare as Cork and Tipperary re-emerged as the kingpins of Munster. In 2002 Clare were defeated in the first-round of the provincial championship, however, by using the expanded qualifier system FitzGerald's team qualified for the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, 'the Cats' won the day. In 2005 Clare faced Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. At half-time Clare were well on top, however, an enormous fight-back by 'the Rebels' resulted in a one-point defeat for FitzGerald's team. In 2006 Clare reached the All-Ireland semi-final once again, however, Kilkenny emerged victorious on that occasion.
In 2007 FitzGerald sensationally walked away from the Clare senior hurling team after disagreements with the new manager Tony Considine
. There was speculation that he may return, however, FiztGerald announced on numerous occasions that he would not return. As a result of this he played no part in the 2007 championship
and was replaced as goalkeeper by Philip Brennan
. In March 2008 FitzGerald returned to the Clare senior hurling team under new manager Mike McNamara
. He played a challenge match against Kilkenny, however, a serious finger injury hampered his style of play. After this unsuccessful return he eventually decided to retire from inter-county hurling on 1 April 2008. Because of this he was denied the chance to equal and surpass Christy Ring
's record of 64 appearances in championship games.
Throughout his career FitzGerald was nominated for nine All Stars and has received the award three times (1995, 2002 and 2005). He claimed the top prize in the Poc Fada competition on two occasions. In 2005 FitzGerald published his autobiography, "Passion and Pride".
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He made his debut in 1993 and went on to capture four Railway Cup medals in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2005.
club. He has also taken charge of the Limerick Institute of Technology
hurling team, guiding them to two Fitzgibbon Cup
titles in 2005 and 2007. In August 2007 FitzGerald emerged as a shock contender for the Tipperary
hurling manager post following the departure of Michael 'Babs' Keating. While FitzGerald did express an interest the job eventually went to Liam Sheedy
.
's resignation as manager of the Waterford senior hurling team following a defeat by Clare
, FitzGerald's name was one of those mentioned as a possible successor. At the time he was the manager of the Nenagh Éire Óg
club team in Tipperary, however, he was ratified as manager for the duration of the championship on June 9, 2008. His first game in charge ended in a 21 point victory over Antrim
in the second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers. FitzGerald's side were less impressive in their next game. A 2-18 to 0-18 defeat of Offaly
gave them a safe passage into the All-Ireland quarter-final, however, much work was needed. Wexford
were next up and, while many commentators expected Waterford to win easily, the game was another close affair. At time it looked as if Wexford could pull away and win the game, however, Waterford fought back to secure a one-point win in a score line of 2-19 to 3-15. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Waterford take on Munster rivals Tipperary. It was Waterford's sixth All-Ireland semi-final appearance in a decade, however, they had lost the previous five encounters. Waterford got off to a great start scoring six points without reply. Tipp came back into the game and both sides exchanged tit-for-tat scores for much of the second half. In the end Waterford were able to break their semi-final hoodoo and qualify for a first All-Ireland final since 1963. In the final as Waterford were heavily defeated by to the three-in-a-row Kilkenny team managed by Brian Cody
, 3-30 to 1-13.
saw Waterford end up in 6th place in Division 1, with 2 victories and 4 defeats over the course of the campaign.
Waterford started their 2009 championship campaign with a draw against Limerick in the Munster semi final, in a match of poor quality and low scoring. The replay proved a better affair, with Waterford winning by 8 points after a much improved performance from both sides. Waterford then went on to take on Tipperary in the Munster final, but lost on a scoreline of 4-14 to 2-16. They defeated Galway in the All Ireland quarter final following a second half comeback which saw them scoring the winning point in the final minute. They then went on to play Kilkenny in the semi-final, in a replay to 2008's All Ireland final. Despite a far better performance than the previous encounter, Waterford lost 2-23 to 3-15.
after defeating Cork by 1-16 to 1-13 in the final after a replay and extra time. In the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
semi-final they lost to Tipperary
by 3-19 to 1-18.
On 27 September, Fitzgerald was ratified for two more years as Waterford hurling manager. He was the nomination of the four-man selection committee put before a full meeting of the board. If he sees out the two years it will take his involvement with the county to five championship campaigns.
by Tipperary on a scoreline of 7-19 to 0-19 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
.
In September 2011, Fitzgerald informed the Waterford county board that he would not be seeking another term as manager of the Waterford hurling team bringing an end to his three years in charge.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. He is a former manager of the Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
senior hurling team.
Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all-time, Fitzgerald enjoyed a hugely successful playing career at club level with Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge GAA
Sixmilebridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Sixmilebridge, County Clare, Ireland.-History:Sixmilebridge Hurling Club was founded in 1904. The first recorded matches were at Junior hurling and football level against Newmarket on Fergus with the hurlers winning and the footballers losing...
and at inter-county level with Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
. He was a key member of the latter team during the 'golden age' of the 1990s and collected two All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
titles, three Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
titles and four All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
awards. Fitzgerald also claimed All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
and Munster
Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for the top hurling clubs in the province of Munster in Ireland...
titles at club level.
Even during his playing days Fitzgerald became involved in team management. He has served as a coach to every team in his home club of Sixmilebridge while also bring Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
success to Limerick Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology is an institution of higher education in Limerick, Ireland and is one of 13 institutes that are members of the Institutes of Technology Ireland . The Institute has four campuses in Limerick City, one in both Thurles and Clonmel in County Tipperary and a regional...
. Fitzgerald was appointed manager of the Waterford senior hurling team in June 2008.
Club
FitzGerald plays his club hurling with his local SixmilebridgeSixmilebridge GAA
Sixmilebridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Sixmilebridge, County Clare, Ireland.-History:Sixmilebridge Hurling Club was founded in 1904. The first recorded matches were at Junior hurling and football level against Newmarket on Fergus with the hurlers winning and the footballers losing...
club in Clare. He has much success with the side, winning virtually every honour available at club level. In 1989 FitzGerald was just breaking onto the senior team when 'the Bridge' won the Clare SHC. Three years later in 1992 and 1993 he was a full member of the team when Sixmilebridge captured back-to-back county titles. Two years later in 1995 FitzGerald claimed another county title, before winning his first Munster club championship. On St. Patrick's Day, 1996 he captured his first, and to date his only, All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship is an annual hurling tournament played between hundreds of senior hurling clubs in Ireland. The Tommy Moore Cup is awarded to the winners. The current champions are Clarinbridge...
club medal. Another county title followed in 2000, which itself was converted into another Munster title. FitzGerald captured his last county medal in 2002.
Inter-county
FitzGerald made his senior debut for ClareClare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in a National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
game against Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in February 1989. He was 17 years-old at the time. The following year he became the number one choice for goalkeeper on the senior team, making his Munster Championship
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
debut against Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
in 1990. At the time Clare hurling was in the doldrums, however, within a few years FitzGerald's side would become one of the most feared teams in the championship. In 1993 and 1994 Clare suffered back-to-back Munster final defeats to Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
and Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
respectively, however, in 1995 Clare came from nowhere to win their first Munster title since 1932. In the game against Limerick FitzGerald ran the length of the pitch to take a penalty. Following his conversion of the penalty FitzGerald ran the length of the pitch again to defend his goal-line. This goal was included in RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
's Top 20 GAA Moments
Top 20 GAA Moments
Top 20 GAA Moments was a poll of the best moments of Gaelic football and hurling in the television era. In early 2005, the Irish public chose its favourite from 20 memorable moments from the last 40 years, as selected by ten RTÉ sports personalities and featured on the "Sunday Sport" programme...
television programme in 2005. In the subsequent All-Ireland final against Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
FitzGerald, who was earning a reputation as one of the most reliable goalkeepers, fumbled a Michael Duignan
Michael Duignan
Michael Duignan is a retired Irish hurling manager and former dual player. He played hurling and Gaelic football with his local club St. Rynagh's and with the Offaly senior inter-county teams from the 1980s until the early 2000s. Duignan served as manager of the Meath senior hurling team from...
goal into the back of his net shortly before half-time. In spite of that mistake Clare won the day and FitzGerald collected his first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal.
In 1996 Clare dramatically lost their Munster and All-Ireland titles in a first-round meeting with Limerick. Clare were back in 1997 with FitzGerald winning a second Munster title following a defeat of Tipperary. In the subsequent All-Ireland final Clare and Tipp met again, however, it was FitzGerald's side who collected the title following a one-point victory. In winning the 1997 All-Ireland final Clare beat Cork, Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
and Tipperray - the big three of hurling. In doing so they became only the second team ever, along with Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
in 1959, to achieve this. In 1998 FitzGerald claimed his third Munster medal, however, following a bizarre three-game battle with Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final, Clare, the red-hot favourites to retain the title, were knocked out of the championship.
The following few seasons proved difficult for FitzGerald and Clare as Cork and Tipperary re-emerged as the kingpins of Munster. In 2002 Clare were defeated in the first-round of the provincial championship, however, by using the expanded qualifier system FitzGerald's team qualified for the All-Ireland final. Kilkenny provided the opposition on that occasion, however, 'the Cats' won the day. In 2005 Clare faced Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final. At half-time Clare were well on top, however, an enormous fight-back by 'the Rebels' resulted in a one-point defeat for FitzGerald's team. In 2006 Clare reached the All-Ireland semi-final once again, however, Kilkenny emerged victorious on that occasion.
In 2007 FitzGerald sensationally walked away from the Clare senior hurling team after disagreements with the new manager Tony Considine
Tony Considine
Tony Considine served as manager of the Clare senior hurling team from November 2006 until August 2007.Considine was ratified as the Clare hurling manager to succeed Anthony Daly in November 2006 at a county board meeting in Ennis. He had previously served as a selector on the successful Clare...
. There was speculation that he may return, however, FiztGerald announced on numerous occasions that he would not return. As a result of this he played no part in the 2007 championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
and was replaced as goalkeeper by Philip Brennan
Philip Brennan (Clare hurler)
Philip Brennan is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Tulla and has been the goalkeeper on the Clare senior inter-county team since 2007. He works as a Hurley Maker for John Torpey Woodturning Ltd.-References:...
. In March 2008 FitzGerald returned to the Clare senior hurling team under new manager Mike McNamara
Mike McNamara
Michael "Mike" McNamara is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Scariff from the 1960s until the 1980s...
. He played a challenge match against Kilkenny, however, a serious finger injury hampered his style of play. After this unsuccessful return he eventually decided to retire from inter-county hurling on 1 April 2008. Because of this he was denied the chance to equal and surpass Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
's record of 64 appearances in championship games.
Throughout his career FitzGerald was nominated for nine All Stars and has received the award three times (1995, 2002 and 2005). He claimed the top prize in the Poc Fada competition on two occasions. In 2005 FitzGerald published his autobiography, "Passion and Pride".
Provincial
FitzGerald has also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He made his debut in 1993 and went on to capture four Railway Cup medals in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2005.
Managerial career
Even during his playing days FitzGerald became heavily involved in coaching and managing teams. Since the early 1990s he has coached virtually every team from juvenile to senior with his own native SixmilebridgeSixmilebridge GAA
Sixmilebridge is a Gaelic Athletic Association club in Sixmilebridge, County Clare, Ireland.-History:Sixmilebridge Hurling Club was founded in 1904. The first recorded matches were at Junior hurling and football level against Newmarket on Fergus with the hurlers winning and the footballers losing...
club. He has also taken charge of the Limerick Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology is an institution of higher education in Limerick, Ireland and is one of 13 institutes that are members of the Institutes of Technology Ireland . The Institute has four campuses in Limerick City, one in both Thurles and Clonmel in County Tipperary and a regional...
hurling team, guiding them to two Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
titles in 2005 and 2007. In August 2007 FitzGerald emerged as a shock contender for the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
hurling manager post following the departure of Michael 'Babs' Keating. While FitzGerald did express an interest the job eventually went to Liam Sheedy
Liam Sheedy
Liam Sheedy is an Irish former hurler and manager. He played for his local club Portroe and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1997 until 1999...
.
2008
Following Justin McCarthyJustin McCarthy (hurler)
Justin McCarthy is an Irish former hurling manager and former player, who took over as manager of the Limerick senior inter-county team in October 2008. He played hurling with his local club Passage and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s.As a player McCarthy was involved...
's resignation as manager of the Waterford senior hurling team following a defeat by Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
, FitzGerald's name was one of those mentioned as a possible successor. At the time he was the manager of the Nenagh Éire Óg
Nenagh Éire Óg GAA
Nenagh Éire Óg GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club, located in the town of Nenagh in North County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:Hurling has a long history in Nenagh, being played there long before the founding of the GAA...
club team in Tipperary, however, he was ratified as manager for the duration of the championship on June 9, 2008. His first game in charge ended in a 21 point victory over Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
in the second round of the All-Ireland qualifiers. FitzGerald's side were less impressive in their next game. A 2-18 to 0-18 defeat of Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
gave them a safe passage into the All-Ireland quarter-final, however, much work was needed. Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
were next up and, while many commentators expected Waterford to win easily, the game was another close affair. At time it looked as if Wexford could pull away and win the game, however, Waterford fought back to secure a one-point win in a score line of 2-19 to 3-15. The subsequent All-Ireland semi-final saw Waterford take on Munster rivals Tipperary. It was Waterford's sixth All-Ireland semi-final appearance in a decade, however, they had lost the previous five encounters. Waterford got off to a great start scoring six points without reply. Tipp came back into the game and both sides exchanged tit-for-tat scores for much of the second half. In the end Waterford were able to break their semi-final hoodoo and qualify for a first All-Ireland final since 1963. In the final as Waterford were heavily defeated by to the three-in-a-row Kilkenny team managed by Brian Cody
Brian Cody
Brian Cody is an Irish hurling manager and former player, currently managing the Kilkenny senior inter-county team, where he has been in charge since 1998...
, 3-30 to 1-13.
2009
A relatively poor performance in the 2009 National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling League 2009
The 2009 National Hurling League was held between February and May, 2009. 35 GAA county hurling teams, 34 from Ireland , and London contested it. Kilkenny were the Division 1 champions.-Format:...
saw Waterford end up in 6th place in Division 1, with 2 victories and 4 defeats over the course of the campaign.
Waterford started their 2009 championship campaign with a draw against Limerick in the Munster semi final, in a match of poor quality and low scoring. The replay proved a better affair, with Waterford winning by 8 points after a much improved performance from both sides. Waterford then went on to take on Tipperary in the Munster final, but lost on a scoreline of 4-14 to 2-16. They defeated Galway in the All Ireland quarter final following a second half comeback which saw them scoring the winning point in the final minute. They then went on to play Kilkenny in the semi-final, in a replay to 2008's All Ireland final. Despite a far better performance than the previous encounter, Waterford lost 2-23 to 3-15.
2010
Waterford won the 2010 Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
after defeating Cork by 1-16 to 1-13 in the final after a replay and extra time. In the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2010
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship 2010 was the 114th staging of Ireland's premier hurling competition since its establishment in 1887. A total of thirteen teams competed in the championship, with Tipperary unseating the four-time defending champions Kilkenny by 4-17 to 1-18 in the...
semi-final they lost to Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
by 3-19 to 1-18.
On 27 September, Fitzgerald was ratified for two more years as Waterford hurling manager. He was the nomination of the four-man selection committee put before a full meeting of the board. If he sees out the two years it will take his involvement with the county to five championship campaigns.
2011
On 10 July 2011, Waterford were defeated in the Munster Final2011 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final
The 2011 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final was a hurling match to be played on 10 July 2011 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, between Tipperary and Waterford. The match pitted the 2010 All-Ireland Hurling Champions against the 2010 Munster Hurling Champions...
by Tipperary on a scoreline of 7-19 to 0-19 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in the Ballintemple area of Cork in Ireland, where major hurling and Gaelic football matches are played. It is the home of Cork GAA...
.
In September 2011, Fitzgerald informed the Waterford county board that he would not be seeking another term as manager of the Waterford hurling team bringing an end to his three years in charge.