7pm cannot come soon enough for Davy Fitzgerald as Clare go toe to toe with Limerick in the second round of qualifiers in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship.
Now in his fourth year as Clare boss, the Sixmilebridge man stresses that Clare will be beaten if they’re not at their very best this evening in Semple Stadium. “There is no easy games at this stage of championship. This is knock out hurling and we know we will be punished if our intensity and hurling isn’t at one hundred percent”.
He feels there is very little between the teams as has been evident in recent encounters. “Limerick beat us at this stage of the championship in 2012 and again in the Munster championship last year. There has been nothing between the sides in past fixtures and this weekend will be the same”.
Keen to praise their opponents, Fitzgerald points to the fact that the Treaty County have only been beaten three times this year as an indication of how effective they are. “Limerick won’t be afraid of us. It’s do or die now. We know the great young talent that they have. They have only been beaten three times this year”.
To be hurling in July is a plus but Davy is keen for Clare to be still in the championship for the next few weeks. “I cannot wait for the game and I’m sure TJ is no different. This is what you want, high stakes hurling in the middle of summer”.