Fitzgerald named as Waterford manager

David Fitzgerald has been appointed as the new Waterford hurling manager. The decision was taken at last night's county board meeting in Dungarvan. The former Clare All-Ireland winning goalkeeper had been one of the names associated with the position in the days since Justin McCarthy's resignation but it emerged only yesterday that he was to be the county's choice.

His appointment will be until the end of this season's championship and he will be assisted by former Waterford Munster hurling medallist and football manager Peter Queally as well as Maurice Geary, manager of county champions Ballyduff Upper.

Gerry Fitzpatrick, the physical trainer who has continued to conduct sessions during the interregnum of the past week, will remain in that role.

During last night's meeting, which passed the new appointments with just one dissenting voice, county chair Pat Flynn emphasised Fitzgerald's selection as manager had been the sole responsibility of county officials and had not been influenced by the players. The new manager will be stepping into a challenging position with the county poised a few weeks before their opening qualifier match against the losers of Antrim-Galway and after the traumatic defeat by Fitzgerald's own county nine days ago.

The subsequent players' meeting in Tramore triggered McCarthy's departure when it was communicated to the county board the team felt it had progressed as far as it could under the guidance of the Cork coach, whose seven years in charge delivered three Munster titles and one national League.

Fitzgerald retired from intercounty hurling earlier this year after missing out on last year's championship because of a disagreement with then manager Tony Considine.

"Maybe I'm an awful fool to be taking this on," Fitzgerald said yesterday, "but it's a great challenge. It's all I've been doing since I was a young fella and now that I'm not playing at the top level I have the time to do this. I was at my first championship game since retiring the week before last and I found it very hard not to have that involvement."

Rumours associating Fitzgerald with the job had been rife over the weekend and he is believed to have received an official representation on Saturday. The following night on the Sunday Game he evaded questions from presenter Pat Spillane about his interest in the position.

"I was very flattered to be approached over the past few days," he said yesterday. "I know a lot of the players well from tours over the years and they're not near as bad as they're made out to be. In the end what do you live for only a fresh challenge?"

The point has been made with some important players due to return from injury and the undeniable talent in the team, Waterford have the capability to be a serious proposition should they rally under the new management. Furthermore, the expectations of the new management won't be excessive given they are taking over in the mid-season. "No there isn't a lot of pressure because of that," agreed Fitzgerald, "but there's enough of pressure."

His highest-profile coaching success to date has been the two Fitzgibbon Cups won with Limerick IT. Liam Kelly, chair of the college's GAA club was warm in his tribute to Fitzgerald. "He was fantastic for us and put hurling on the map in the college. We were in Division Two of the Higher Education league when he came on board four years ago and in that time he won two Fitzgibbons and reached the final this year and lost just in extra time.

"He was excellent and a real players' man. He'd organise extra lessons or tuition for them. We've seen this coming. Every year there's been more and more watching his methods. We wish him every success and hopefully he might give us a bit more time yet."

Meanwhile, Waterford's conquerors in the Munster first round, Clare, have survived an injury scare to that match's top scorer Mark Flaherty, who sustained a hand injury playing for his club Killanena at the weekend.

"He got a belt on the hand," according to Clare manager Michael McNamara. "At first we thought it was broken but it turned out to be just bruised and swollen and although it could be a race against time he should be fit for the semi-final. Mark played extremely well for us against Waterford and should improve from the last day. He's a good free- taker and . . . good from play."

Clare face last year's All-Ireland finalists Limerick on Sunday week in Thurles.