Clare's goalkeeper was a hero at both ends yesterday, but his goal from a penalty was only the latest in a long list of scoring exploits for club and county. Most famously, in July 1995, Clare's breakthrough year, Fitzgerald made the long journey up from his own square to goal a 28th-minute penalty against Limerick in the Munster final. Although they won pulling up afterwards, it was a turning point in that it gave Clare the lead for the first time that day while the moment survived as one of the most enduring of the year. In November '95, Fitzgerald contributed a goal from a 100-metre free to Sixmilebridge's Munster club final defeat of Eire Og, Nenagh. Fitzgerald has chipped in with points from frees, too. In March 1996, he scored a point from a 100-metre free against Cork in a league game.

The long run from his own goal has not always paid dividends, though. In March '98 his saunter up the field in injury-time of a league game against Limerick ended somewhat disappointingly when he blasted over the bar. His highest profile miss, however, came in last year's All-Ireland semi-final against Offaly. Brian Whelahan came between the Clare goalkeeper and the net when Fitzgerald missed a first-half penalty in the first match of their August '98 saga.