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Tommy Fitzgerald (hurler)

Tommy Fitzgerald
Personal information
Irish name Tomás Mac Gearailt
Sport Hurling
Position Wing-forward
Born 1983
Portlaoise,
County Laois, Ireland
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Club(s)
Years Club
Portlaoise
Club titles
  Football Hurling
Laois titles 9 1
Leinster titles 2 0
Inter-county(ies)
Years County Apps (scores)
2002-2015
Laois 50
Inter-county titles
Leinster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NHL 0
All Stars 0

Thomas Fitzgerald (born 1983) is an Irish hurling manager and former player who, as of 2024, is the manager of the Laois senior hurling team. He was a dual player at club level with Portlaoise and was also a member of the Laois senior hurling team.

Playing career

Fitzgerald began his club career with Portlaoise as a dual player at underage levels. He won minor and under-21 championship titles in both hurling and Gaelic football before progressing to the club's respective senior teams as a dual player. Fitzgerald won nine Laois SFC medals and one Laois SHC between 2002 and 2013. He also won two Leinster Club SFC medals.[1]

On the inter-county scene, Fitzgerald first played hurling for Laois during a two-year tenure with the minor team in 2000 and 2001. He later lined out with the under-21 team. Fitzgerald made his senior team debut in 2002. He won a National League Division 2 medal that year before later claiming an All-Ireland SBHC medal after a 2–20 to 2–07 defeat of Wicklow in the final.[2]

Fitzgerald won a second Division 2 medal in 2007 before leaving the panel in March 2011 following a disagreement with team manager Brendan Fennelly.[3] He returned to the panel shortly after and claimed a third Division 2 medal in 2013. Fitzgerald retired from inter-county hurling 2015.[4]

Management career

Fitzgerald was part of Eddie Brennan's management team when Brennan guided Laois to the Joe McDonagh Cup title in 2019.[5] Fitzgerald later switched to club coaching with St Thomas' in Galway.[6] After coaching the club to three successive Galway SHC titles, Fitzgerald's side claimed the All-Ireland Club SHC title in 2024 after an 0–18 to 0–17 defeat of O'Loughlin Gaels.[7]

Fitzgerald succeeded Darren Gleeson as the Laois senior team manager in November 2024.[8]

Honours

Player

Portlaoise
Laois

Management

St Thomas'
Laois

References

  1. ^ "Portlaoise set high standard". Irish Independent. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Wicklow fall at the last". Irish Independent. 2 August 2002. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Fitzgerald brands Fennelly a 'disaster from day one'". Irish Examiner. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Laois hurlers decimated by withdrawals". Hogan Stand. 2 December 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Modest Fitzgerald integral to Laois' recent success". RTÉ Sport. 14 July 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Righting wrongs not on St Thomas' minds – Fitzgerald". Irish Independent. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  7. ^ "Laois man plays a part as Galway side St Thomas's claim thrilling All Ireland club hurling title". Laois Today. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Fitzgerald to replace Gleeson as Laois hurling manager". Laois Today. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.