Davy Fitzgerald
David Fitzgerald is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He is the current manager of the Antrim senior hurling team since August 2024.
He was the manager of the Waterford county team from 2022 until 2024, having previously managed the team between 2008 and 2011. As a player, he played as a goalkeeper winning, two All-Irelands with Clare.
Fitzgerald began his hurling career at club level with Sixmilebridge. He broke onto the club's top adult team as a 17-year-old in 1989 and had his greatest success in 1996 when Sixmilebridge won the All-Ireland Club Championship. Fitzgerald's club career ended in 2011, by which time he had also won two Munster Club Championship titles and six Clare Senior Championship titles.
At inter-county level, Fitzgerald was part of a Clare minor team that won the Munster Championship in 1989, before he later lined out with the Clare under-21 team. He joined the Clare senior team in 1990. From his debut, Fitzgerald was ever-present as a goalkeeper and made a combined total of 148 National League and Championship appearances in a career that ended with his last game in 2006. During that time he was part of two All-Ireland Championship-winning teams – in 1995 and 1997. Fitzgerald also secured three Munster Championship medals. He announced his retirement from inter-county hurling on 31 March 2008.
Fitzgerald won his first All-Star in 1995, before claiming a further two All-Stars in 2002 and 2005. He is currently Clare's record championship appearer, having played in 60 championship games. At inter-provincial level, Fitzgerald was selected to play in seven championship campaigns with Munster and won Railway Cup medals in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2005.
Even as a player, Fitzgerald became involved in team management and coaching. In 1999 Fitzgerald was part of u21 Clare coaching team. Fitzgerald received a GAA 8-week suspension, after an on the field alteration with a Tipperary hurling player, following Clare u21 munster final loss. After coaching every grade of Sixmilebridge team from juvenile to senior, he later had an unsuccessful tenure in charge of Nenagh Éire Óg. Fitzgerald subsequently became director of hurling at the Limerick Institute of Technology with whom he won two Fitzgibbon Cup titles.
Fitzgerald's first managerial role at inter-county level was with Waterford in 2008. In his four seasons in charge he guided the team to a first All-Ireland final appearance in 45 years as well as the Munster Championship title in 2010. Fitzgerald later spent five seasons as manager of the Clare senior team who he guided to the All-Ireland title in 2013 and a first National League title in 38 years. After stepping down as Clare manager he took charge of the Wexford senior team, winning the Leinster Championship in 2019.
On 26 September 2019, Fitzgerald confirmed that he would be staying on with the Wexford senior hurlers for another two seasons. He had been linked to vacant Galway hurling managerial position but said that he never spoke to anyone other than the Wexford County Board. He announced his departure from Wexford on 30 July 2021. In 2022 Davy was part of Cork caomgies back room team assisting manager Matthew Twomey. Fitzgerald was sent off by the referee in Corks opening league match of 2022
Davy began a second term as Deise manager in August 2022 until 2024. In 2025 Fitzgerald managed Antrim senior hurling team.
Early life
Fitzgerald's father Pat served as secretary of the Clare County Board from June 1990. In June 2022, Pat Fitzgerald announced his intention to resign from the role after 32 years.Playing career
Club
Fitzgerald played his club hurling with his local team in Sixmilebridge and enjoyed much success in a career that spanned four decades and 100 senior championship games.After making his debut as a substitute in Sixmilebridge's opening championship game in 1989, Fitzgerald subsequently took over from Brendan Flynn as first-choice goalkeeper. It was a successful debut season as he captured his first county championship medal following a 3–14 to 1–11 defeat of Clarecastle.
In 1992 Sixmilebridge were back in the championship decider. A narrow 1–11 to 1–10 defeat of Éire Óg gave victory to "the Bridge" and gave Fitzgerald a second county championship medal.
For only the second time in the history of the club, Sixmilebridge retained their championship title in 1993 following a 3–8 to 2–6 defeat of O'Callaghan's Mills. It was Fitzgerald's third county championship medal.
Three-in-a-row proved beyond Sixmilebridge, however, the team bounced back to reach the championship decider again in 1995. Scariff provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Sixmilebridge secured the victory by just a single point on a score line of 2–10 to 0–15. The win gave Fitzgerald a fourth county championship medal. "The Bridge" later qualified for the provincial decider against Tipp champions Nenagh Éire Óg. A converted penalty by Fitzgerald helped the team to a 2–18 to 1–7 victory and the Munster title. Sixmilebridge later qualified for the All-Ireland final where Dunloy were the opponents. The Ulstermen provided little opposition as the Clare champions surged to a 5–10 to 2–6 victory. It was Fitzgerald's first All-Ireland medal.
After losing the championship decider in 1999, Sixmilebridge bounced back the following year to reach the county showpiece once again. Éire Óg were the opponents, however, Fitzgerald won a fifth championship medal following a 4–9 to 1–8 defeat of Éire Óg. He later added a second Munster medal to his collection following a 2–17 to 3–8 defeat of Mount Sion in the provincial final.
After surrendering their title in 2001, Sixmilebridge returned to the county final the following year. Clarecastle provided the opposition, however, a 3–10 to 2–8 victory gave Fitzgerald his sixth championship medal. This win also proved to be his last major victory with the club.
Fitzgerald continued with Sixmilebridge until he decided to retire after the 2008 championship. He came out of retirement in 2011 to make his 100th appearance and help the club to qualify for the county final once again.
Clare
Minor and under-21
Fitzgerald first played for Clare as a member of the minor team during the 1989 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 19 April 1989 when he lined out in goal in a 7–08 to 0–07 defeat of Cork. On 2 July 1989, Fitzgerald won a Munster Championship medal after Clare's 2–13 to 2–12 defeat of Limerick in the final. On 3 September 1989, he again lined out in goal when Clare suffered a 2–16 to 1–12 defeat by Offaly in the All-Ireland final.Fitzgerald was drafted onto the Clare under-21 team in advance of the 1990 Munster Championship. He made his debut in the grade on 20 June 1990 when he lined out in goal in a 2–11 to 2–05 defeat of Cork.
On 15 July 1992, Fitzgerald lined out in goal when Clare faced Waterford in the Munster final. He ended the game on the losing side after a 0–17 to 1–12 defeat. It was Fitzgerald's last game n the grade.
Senior
Fitzgerald was just out of the minor grade when he was added to the Clare senior team during the 1989-90 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 19 February 1990 when he lined out in goal in Clare's 4–10 to 1–11 defeat of Down. After impressing in goal over the remainder of the league and finishing top of Division 2, Fitzgerald became first-choice goalkeeper for the 1990 Munster Championship. He made his debut on 13 May 1990 in a 2–16 to 1–05 defeat by Limerick.On 4 July 1993, Fitzgerald lined out in goal when Clare qualified for their first Munster final appearance since 1986. Fitzgerald ended the game on the losing side following the 3–27 to 2–12 defeat by Tipperary.
After winning a second National League Division 2 title, Fitzgerald lined out in a second successive Munster final on 10 July 1994. He ended on the losing side after suffering 0–25 to 2–10 defeat by Limerick.
On 7 May 1995, Fitzgerald lined out in his first National League final. He conceded two goals in the 2–12 to 0–09 defeat by Kilkenny. Fitzgerald lined out in a third successive Munster final on 9 July 1995 with Limerick providing the opposition for the second year in-a-row. One of the most enduring moments in the decade was of Fitzgerald scampering back the length of Semple Stadium’s pitch after scoring a first-half penalty. He ended the game with a winners' medal following the 1–17 to 0–11 victory. On 3 September 1995, Fitzgerald lined out in goal when Clare qualified for the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1932. He conceded two goals but ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following a 1–13 to 2–08 victory. Fitzgerald ended the season by being named in the goalkeeping position on the All-Star team.
Fitzgerald lined out in the fourth Munster final of his career on 6 July 1997. He ended the game with a second winners' medal after the 1–18 to 0–18 defeat of Tipperary. On 14 September 1997, Fitzgerald was once again in goal when Clare renewed their rivalry with Tipperary in the All-Ireland final. He conceded two goals but collected a second All-Ireland medal following the 0–20 to 2–13 victory.
On 12 July 1998, Fitzgerald lined out in goal when Clare drew 1–16 to 3–10 with Waterford in the Munster final. He retained his position for the replay a week later and made an important save from a Paul Flynn free in the 60th minute. Fitzgerald ended the game with a third winners' medal in four years after the 2–16 to 0–10 victory.
After a number of disappointing championship seasons, Clare surprised the hurling world by qualifying for the All-Ireland final again in 2002. Fitzgerald's side put up a good fight against Kilkenny, however, a combined tally of 2–13 for both Henry Shefflin and D. J. Carey gave 'the Cats' a seven-point victory.
After a number of disappointing seasons and some near misses, Clare bounced back in 2005. In spite of an early exit from the provincial campaign Fitzgerald's side subsequently qualified for an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Cork. In that game Clare had the reigning All-Ireland champions on the ropes. Clare led by six points at one stage, however, Cork fought back to defeat Clare by just one point.
In 2006 Clare were comprehensively defeated by Cork in their opening game in the championship. After topping group B of the qualifier series for the second consecutive year Clare subsequently defeated Wexford to set up an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kilkenny. Clare, however, were defeated once again.
In early 2007 speculation was rife that Fitzgerald was on the cusp of retiring due to his unhappiness with certain aspects of the county set-up and a difference of opinion with new manager Tony Considine. He was later omitted from Clare's National League panel in spite of a crisis meeting between Fitzgerald and Considine. As a result of the disagreement between the two men, Fitzgerald also remained sidelined for the championship campaign. At the end of the year Fitzgerald contemplated a return to inter-county hurling once again. In early 2008 he 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 31 March 2008.