There’s a reason why Davy Fitzgerald is always an instant success as manager

Davy Fitzgerald is a manager that always gets off to a fast start.

Instantaneously, Wexford seem to have improved umpteen times from 2016 under the guidance of Fitzgerald. The Model County topped Division 1B this year and beat Kilkenny in championship hurling for the first time since 2004. Their new manager has well and truly hit the ground running, and it’s not the first time. He won an All-Ireland title with Clare in only his second year with the team and guided Waterford to an All-Ireland Final in his debut year when he took over the side back in 2008. One man who played under the 45-year-old back then was Ken McGrath, and he opened up on how Fitzgerald was able to bring success straight away. “Davy came down and it was like a whirlwind for that summer, we got to the final,” McGrath said of his former manager on SportsJOE Live “I suppose he was a breath of fresh air at the time because, look, he had new ideas and the team were probably on its last legs when he came in. “He was full of energy, it’s the way it is now.” The former Waterford hurler was full of praise for his former manager and believes that the sport needs personalities like Fitzgerald. “He’s a character and he loves the game. I think he’s good for the game. People are talking about him outside of the game and I think there’s a lack of that in hurling and the GAA at times." McGrath even disclosed some of the unconventional training approaches that the All-Ireland winning manager brought to the practice field. “Davy came in, there were more cones on the pitch, there were sliothars everywhere. The county board manager was after having a stroke I think with all the sliothars being put everywhere, it was all go.” You can watch the full episode below.