‘The right thing to do’ – Fitzgerald on stepping away

Davy Fitzgerald says he wants to prioritise his family for now after stepping down as Waterford hurling manager.

The Clare native had another year left on his three-year term, but has decided to step down as the Deise begin the search to find a replacement.

Fitzgerald, who previously managed Waterford between 2008 and 2011, returned to manage the county following the 2022 season.

He guided them to Munster SHC wins over Tipperary in 2023 and Cork at the beginning of the 2024 campaign, but they ultimately failed to progress from the province in both years.

Fitzgerald informed his players after their Munster exit was confirmed that he needed time to mull over his future, and nearly six weeks on after defeat to Limerick, he has decided to leave his post.

Speaking to Marty Morrissey, Fitzgerald said he was keen to spend more time with his wife Sharon and two-year-old son Dáithí Óg, as well as his adult son Colm.

“It’s been in my head all the time,” he told RTÉ Sport.

“Waterford isn’t right beside you, it’s a nice journey, leaving early in the day. I have Dáithí Óg in my life now which is a lot different.

“I have a summer, now that I have made my decision, that I don’t have to think about hurling right now. That might change, but right now, I have a bit of time at home to spend more time with Colm and herself (Sharon). It’s different.”

Fitzgerald said his return to the Deise hotseat was an enjoyable period in his management career, but conceded that early season injuries meant it was a “tough” league campaign from which they failed to build any momentum heading into the championship.

Despite that, he paid tribute to his panel of players, insisting there are solid foundations laid for whoever succeeds Fitzgerald as manager.

“Where we got them from two years ago, I think we have come on a tonne,” he said. “We were very unlucky that we didn’t go forward in the championship. I think we played some great stuff and the lads were incredible and gave me everything.

“The lads showed unbelievable resilience. You would have heard different things, that they are a tough bunch to work with and will they stand up to the pressure? They did all of the above.”

The 52-year-old has been an inter-county senior hurling manager in all but one season since 2007 when he took over from Justin McCarthy as Waterford boss mid-championship.

That was 2022, when he coached the Cork camogie team, but Fitzgerald ruled out that his time as an inter-county manager has come to an end.

“I’m young enough,” he said. “It seems like I have been around a while, I managed very young. Never say never.

“If the right thing comes at some stage, maybe it will be next year or the year after. You never know what will happen.

“Am I out of love with the game? Definitely not, but circumstances are a bit different right now.”

Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals, Kilkenny v Clare (3pm on Saturday on RTÉ One) and Limerick v Cork (4pm on Sunday on RTE2). Both games available on RTE Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1