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24th Apr 2012

Do referees really have something against Davy Fitz or is he just a bit paranoid?

The pint-sized Clare hurling manager hit the headlines this weekend after claiming that referees ‘have it in’ for him following the Banner’s league semi-final loss to Kilkenny. But does he have a point?

Conor Heneghan

The pint-sized Clare hurling manager hit the headlines this weekend after claiming that referees ‘have it in’ for him following the Banner’s league semi-final loss to Kilkenny. But does he have a point?

 

Davy Fitz shooting his mouth off in the press? There must have been something amiss when such a shy and retiring individual felt the need to speak up.

I can only guess that you’re being very sarcastic because even the most fair-weathered hurling follower will know that Davy isn’t exactly the quiet type. He’s a very passionate guy, but at least you’ll always know where you stand with Davy, he wouldn’t be a man to beat around the bush.

So what got his goat this time?

Well, he felt that a few decisions didn’t go the way of his team during their defeat to Kilkenny in the National League semi-final on Sunday. Nearly all of the controversial ones came in the build-up to the crucial goal scored by Kilkenny’s Matthew Ruth early in the second half.

Fitzgerald felt that a sideline ball in the build-up was wrongly awarded to Kilkenny instead of Clare, that Eoin Larkin turned too many times with the ball in hand before shooting on goal and that Ruth himself was in the square when pucking the ball to the net after Patrick Kelly had made the initial save from Larkin’s shot.

Have a look at the video below (skip to 0:40) to see whether or not you agree with Davy with regards to the latter two of the disputed decisions. It must be said, however, that he had the good grace to admit that Kilkenny would have won the game even if the decisions didn’t go their way.

I can only imagine his reaction was of the caustic variety?

Well, yes and no. Davy kept rather calm (by his standards anyway) in the post-match interviews afterwards, but he made a few forceful points all the same.

Without recounting his quotes in full, he basically put forward a theory that referees tended to favour the bigger teams and that some referees had a personal agenda against himself on the basis of a number of run-ins he has had with officials in the past.

As outlined in the Irish Independent today, Davy has twice received suspensions for altercations with officials – in 2011 while in charge of Waterford and way back in 2004 when he was managing LIT.

So does he have a point or is this just some premeditated tactic in an attempt to subconsciously influence referees from here on in?

Well, Clare might have been hard done by in Thurles on Sunday, but in terms of the bigger picture it might just be a touch of paranoia on Davy’s behalf. Certainly, that’s what referees chief Mick Curley felt about the whole thing if his comments on the matter are anything to go by.

What did he say?

“It makes no blind difference to a referee who is involved or what manager is in charge of what team,” he said.

“Their only interest is to get the call in front of them right, regardless of who is playing. I’m surprised at these comments. Clare have had a good league and did well to get to a league semi-final.

“I think they (Fitzgerald’s comments) are out of order,” he added.

If that’s what Curley had to say in public, you can imagine he’ll be taking an even firmer stance in private to ensure that referees don’t take the bait, if, of course, that was Davy’s intention in the first place.

Is it just a slap on the wrist for Davy then, or will there be any further action taken?

Perhaps. The CCCC were due to meet yesterday and could yet recommend a sanction for the Banner bainisteoir, particularly considering that they somewhat embarrassingly requested an apology from Wexford football goalkeeper Anthony Masterson after he was openly critical of officials following the Model County’s controversial defeat to Limerick last year.

Even if he was dragged over the coals, do you think he’ll keep a lid on it for the rest of the season?

Hardly, do you think a man who made this famous speech will remain mute for the summer? We’ve a feeling there’ll be a little more fire and brimstone to come from Davy yet.

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