‘He’s trying too hard’ – Joe Canning delivers searingly ‘honest’ view on Davy Fitzgerald’s managerial style

JOE CANNING reckons Davy Fitzgerald ‘overdoes it with tactics’ – but did once try to convince him to take over as Galway manager.

The 2017 Hurler of the Year was speaking on The Indo Sport podcast while promoting the release of his autobiography.

15 May 2024; Galway selector Joe Canning during the oneills.com Leinster GAA Hurling U20 Championship semi-final match between Dublin and Galway at Laois Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, Laois. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Canning did try to recruit Fitzgerald to be Galway’s manager in 2019
26 May 2024; Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald before the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Limerick and Waterford at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Fitzgerald brought his second stint in charge of Waterford to an end in early July
21 April 2024; Conor Prunty of Waterford during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 1 match between Waterford and Cork at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
His critics argue that he doesn’t allow his players to play with enough freedom and instead is overly wedded to a handpass-heavy game plan
a book titled joe my story with vincent hogan
@seosamh_oc

Canning’s book is ghostwritten by Vincent Hogan with Fitzgerald quoted on the cover[/caption]

During the reflective chat on his entire life and career, he was quizzed on a 2019 episode where he tried to persuade Fitzgerald to take over the Tribe.

Since he already had a relationship with Fitzgerald from playing under him at Limerick IT, Canning was thrown forward by his teammates to make the first overture.

The Portumna man explains: “Yeah we had meetings in 2019 when Micheál Donoghue left and there were a couple of names mentioned by the players – and Fitzy was near top of the list.

“Because I obviously worked with him and knew him, they asked me to pop by the house and see if he’d any interest.

“It was around the time people were saying he might leave Wexford.

“We tested the water but I think the Wexford boys rang him and kept him on for another year.”

At that point host Joe Molloy put it to him that in 2024 it’s often said of the Banner legend that his tactics are outdated and the game has passed him by.

To which the 36-year-old replied: “To be honest right, I think he’s probably trying too hard. That’s my own honest opinion.

“I think sometimes he can overdo the tactics side of things.

“People are funny but if you look at his managerial record it is fairly impressive when you put it up against different people so you have to respect that as well.

“He’s got results in a lot of places he’s gone to.

“And realistically he was very unlucky this year with Waterford that they didn’t get out of the Munster Championship.

“So I respect that side of him.

“As I said I don’t agree with everything he does but there is mutual respect for what he did as a player and what he’s done as a manager.”

Somewhat surprisingly, Fitzgerald chose to resign as Waterford boss in July despite an uptick in performances and results over the course of his second season in charge.

ANTRIM APPOINTMENT

But he will be back on the sidelines for the 2025 inter-county campaign as he was announced as Antrim’s new supremo in August.

It’s the fourth senior inter-county team that the Sixmilebridge man will manage following stints with Waterford, Clare and Wexford.

Prior to Waterford, he had a year as Cork camogie coach in 2022 after a relatively successful stint with Wexford, whom he led to Leinster glory in 2019.

The RTE regular had spoken about the toll of the trip from Clare to Wexford but has signed up for a role in Northern Ireland, four hours away.

It’s arguably his biggest challenge yet in hurling management though Antrim did make significant strides under former boss Darren Gleeson.

Tipperary man Gleeson guided Antrim to two Joe McDonagh Cup wins during his five years in charge but also stepped down in July.

Gleeson, a former All-Ireland winning goalkeeper like Fitzgerald, kept Antrim in the Leinster SHC this summer with wins over Wexford and Carlow.

They will compete in Division 1B of the restructured National League – ironically alongside Waterford.

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