Is this the end of Davy Fitz?
Since lifting the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2013, Clare have been downright awful in the championship, winning only one game. They met Cork in Thurles in the qualifiers this evening and despite opening up a two-point lead late on, Cork roared back with five straight scores to dump the Banner out of the championship by 0-20 to 0-17.
Fitzgerald’s ferocious management style came under scrutiny during the league after two young players exited the panel, and the speculation surrounding his position will intensify after today’s defeat. Fitzgerald had previously said in an interview with a local paper that he will be staying on as manager regardless of how this year’s championship plays out.
Jimmy Barry Murphy is on the opposite end of the spectrum. He was heavily criticised for failing to address Cork’s defensive problems during their Munster championship defeat to Waterford, but his rearguard held the Clare attack goalless this evening. The reward for Cork’s win is an All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Galway while Dublin will face the loser of tomorrow’s Munster final between Tipperary and Waterford in the other quarter-final.
