No surprise for Davy as Clare draw Déise in Munster semis

New Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald (pictured) wasn’t surprised when last Thursday’s draw for the 2012 Munster Senior Hurling Championship pitted Clare against Waterford in the semi-final.
“In the lead-up to the draw, I felt that it was going to be the pairing. I have had great times with them in recent years but that’s over now and I will be doing all in my power to help Clare win next summer,” he told the Clare Champion at the weekend. Fitzgerald recently stepped down having served almost four years as Waterford boss during which time he led them to the provincial title.
Clare and Waterford will clash in the semi-final with Cork getting a bye into the other semi-final where they await the winners of the Limerick v Tipperary first-round tie.
In football, Clare also received a bye into the semi-final and here they will meet the winners of the first round game between Waterford and Limerick. A Clare v Limerick game will take place in Limerick whereas a Clare v Waterford game will see the Banner side with home advantage.
The football draw means that Cork and Kerry are in the same half so they cannot meet in the final. Kerry will face Tipperary with Cork awaiting the winners in the semi-final.
Dates for the games will be finalised shortly but its expected that Clare won’t be in action in either championship until June
It is expected that the draws for the provincial U-21 and minor championships will be made later this month.