Davy’s Clare future in Waterford’s hands

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OUCH. Hell surely hath no fury equal to that of a Waterford ‘supporter’ 17 points down at half-time in a Munster final. If those clothed in Waterford jerseys leaving Pairc Uí Chaoimh at half-time had their way, Davy Fitzgerald would have been sacked at 4.35pm.
The word ‘supporter’ is used advisedly though. Committed ones would not have left during the interval however bad things were. They would have stayed, peered through their fingers perhaps but not abandoned their county. All of that is not of much relevance to Fitzgerald this week though.
He is in the middle of the most challenging fortnight of his management career. Can he somehow lift Waterford between now and Sunday week when they play Galway? The answer is yes, as long as he has the belief and trust of the Waterford dressing room. If he doesn’t, Fitzgerald and Waterford are finished with each other and Waterford’s year will be cut short by Galway.
Clare hurling people would be interested in how the county’s former goalkeeper is getting on with Waterford under normal circumstances. Yet the circumstances are not run-of-the-mill, given that Clare are minus a senior county manager themselves.
If Fitzgerald or the Clare County Board were thinking of eyeing up each other in the coming weeks, results like last Sunday’s could leave their courtship in jeopardy. This week they’ll definitely have to avoid eye contact.
A similarly morale-sapping hammering by Galway could leave any possibility of Fitzgerald taking over Clare in tatters. Yet Waterford have enjoyed some excellent days under the Sixmilebridge man. Most notably last year’s Munster championship win and reaching, though not partaking in, the 2008 All-Ireland final.
For those close to Waterford hurling and people in Clare wondering who the next Clare senior manager will be, the next 10 days will be fascinating. Can Fitzgerald convince Waterford they can turn their season around and at the very least, compete feverishly with Galway?
Remember, it wasn’t so long ago that Galway themselves were on the floor, when they were out-fought by Dublin.
If Waterford deliver a sustained performance against Galway, whatever the result, Fitzgerald will shoot back into contention to manage Clare. If, of course, he is interested in the job at this point. A manly Waterford display will suggest Fitzgerald can wangle the best from his team under exceptionally testing circumstances.
However, if Waterford are hammered again, his inter-county management career could grind to an unceremonious halt. A 23-point All-Ireland final defeat and a 21-point Munster final trimming stands out on a CV. Just not in the manner that the potential applicant would care to highlight.
The GAA is fast catching up on professional soccer with the manner in which managers are scrutinised and are judged on their most recent results.
Long term, Waterford may benefit from Fitzgerald’s investment in youth, just as Clare might following a similar, albeit enforced, policy from Ger O’Loughlin.
Let’s not avoid the reality though that Waterford’s display on Sunday week will colour how Fitzgerald is remembered in Waterford. Win or even manfully compete and the colour will return to the whitened cheeks of Waterford hurling. Fitzgerald will also put himself firmly in the picture for the vacancy in Clare. Lose heavily and the Clare County Board will have to flutter their eyelashes at alternative candidates.