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Published 19:03 28 Jun 2016 BST
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He was the man we all expected to take over the famous 13 jersey - blue and green - from Brian O'Driscoll. He excelled on the wing, though. He was a silver-streaking sensation. It was a good problem for Declan Kidney to have.
When O'Driscoll's time was coming to an end, however, Fitzgerald was recovering from knee and neck injuries. Twice he was counselled to seriously consider stepping away from the game he loved. Twice he clung on to the low percentages and nurtured them. Made the numbers grow.
He featured in the 2013 Six Nations and copped another injury in that disastrous campaign. He came back from that knee injury too and looked so impressive, against the All Blacks, as he replaced a stubborn yet concussed O'Driscoll.
The 13 talk resurfaced but Fitzgerald's body betrayed him again. Groin and abductor issues plagued him in 2014/15. He had his name scribbled off three team-sheets, just before kick-off, three times that season. He kept fighting. Circling dates on the calendar and living for them.
His selection on the left wing for the must-win, and must win well, Six Nations game against Scotland surprised most of us. It was a pleasant surprise though. It was hard not to pull for the lad. Before that game, Fitzgerald commented:
"I did (fear for my future) actually. I felt there was no escaping it really. The guys were unbelievably patient with me. There were a couple of times when I just walked out and said 'I can't, I can't do this. I've done months of rehab and I still feel like I'm going nowhere'."Against Scotland, he shone. He made line-breaks, stepped his man, offloaded in the tackle and brimmed with attacking intent. Ireland won 40-10 to clinch their second successive championship.
There was another season left in Fitzgerald. He gave us hope against Argentina in the World Cup quarter final and helped Leinster to another Guinness PRO12 final. As it now stands, his career finished at Murrayfield, where he had celebrated that 2015 Six Nations triumph. A comeback, like them all, that promised so much.
I don't know if he shared a can of Tennants with Paul O'Connell as England fell agonisingly short at Twickenham but I hope he did. And I hope it tasted like everything he could have ever dreamed.
He didn't know the party would be over so soon but that's what made it so enjoyable.
10 years at the top yet it feels like we have lost a truly special talent. That's because we have.

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