Tag Archives: Mark Fitzgerald

Just moments after the full-time whistle the Clare Senior football manager was extremely disappointed with the performance of his side more so than the actual result. “We didn’t play well at all, whether that’s because Down are a really decent team I don’t know. Look it, Down were good but we were very flat. Even when we got the goal it gave us no real momentum. There was no pace to our play and I’m just disappointed with ourselves. There’s no denying that they are the best team in the division and deserve their promotion. It’s just a pity we couldn’t test them a bit more.” Once Down got their kick out away short it seemed that we were in trouble and couldn’t cope with their running game. “We weren’t getting across the pitch quick enough. I mean they got several points direct from their restarts especially in the first half and we tried to address that at half-time but …

It may have been Clare’s biggest victory of this year’s National League to date and back-to-back wins for the first time but new manager Mark Fitzgerald still wasn’t getting caught up in the euphoria or feel-good factor in Cusack Park. You see, what the final scoreline did mask was a painfully slow start for the Banner that despite having a strong wind at their backs were largely chasing a Wicklow side devoid of confidence and points. However, the game changed utterly and absolutely with that rousing brace of Cormac Murray goals just before the break. “We scored 2-15 and conceded 0-8 but when it was a game I felt we were decent without being brilliant.” Outlined Fitzgerald immediately afterwards. “We had some sloppy turnovers early on but we got the goals and they gave us that little bit of comfort really.” Three wins from four puts the Banner firmly looking upwards for the remaining three ties but the Tralee native …

Weatherwise it was an opening night that lended itself to grit and determination more than anything else as Mark Fitzgerald’s competitive bow as Clare Senior Football Manager got off to a difficult start in Clarecastle on Wednesday evening. Holding a minimum advantage by the three-quarters mark, the home side would be blitzed by defending McGrath Cup champions Cork in a dominant final quarter that produced an unexpected 14 point turnaround to prevail by 2-14 to 0-8, with the Tralee native looking to take the positives from the bulk of the performance. “Look, it’s January football in tough weather but we’re relatively happy. It went away from us a little bit there in the second half but when you’re seeing what Cork are pulling off the bench, some very experienced lads really, it was always going to be tough to hold out,” he said. “We just picked up one or two injuries this week and obviously picked up another in the …

McGrath Cup Group B Round 1 Cork 2-14 Clare 0-8 Holders Cork eventually possessed too much experience as they overpowered hosts Clare coming down the final straight to put one foot back in what would be a sixth successive McGrath Cup Final in Clarecastle GAA Astro on Wednesday evening. Springing five of last year’s championship side from the bench in the second period, the Rebels produced a remarkable 14 point turnaround in the final 20 minutes including 1-5 from substitute duo Mark Cronin (1-3) and Chris Óg Jones (0-2). In contrast to eleven Cork survivors from last year’s Munster Senior Championship Semi-Final showdown, a new-look Clare only possessed five of the 20 used in that memorable victory as Mark Fitzgerald’s reign finally got the mark in earnest. Large injuries to Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney were frustrating enough besides losing Cillian Rouine in the warm-up which ensured debuts for Darren O’Brien and Josh Guyler in addition to former Westmeath player …