Clare's Davy Fitzgerald has claimed he would be open to the idea of becoming the next manager of the senior Galway hurling team.
Fitzgerald recently left his role with Waterford, while Henry Shefflin also left his role with Galway after a disappointing end to the championship season.
The Clare native believes that Galway has a tonne of untapped potential, but all parties have to align with the same vision to succeed.
“They definitely should be challenging way more than what they are,” Fitzgerald told The GAA Social podcast. “They should be right there or thereabouts. I feel there’s even more young talent there. I feel a mix of young and old right now would be really good for them. They could do it.
“Everything has to align. You need the county board; you need players—everyone on the same wavelength.
“People are funny how they think. I’ve had one or two fellas I’m in business with and friendly with from up there saying, "Listen, we’ll get onto the Galway County Board and say it to them." They’re the only calls I’ve had."
The former Clare goalkeeper has also hinted that he’d be open to being the next Galway boss.
Davy Fitzgerald, everything on the table, not being liked and what’s next? An icon of hurling.
All-Ireland final week & This is great stuff
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“I’d definitely listen, but things have to align. You never know what project is out there. There are different things that would excite me that you’d think, ‘He’d never do that.’
“If I thought there was a real ambition for someone to do something different and for things to really align well, be it at Galway or somewhere else, I’d listen to it. I want someone who’s really ambitious.”
This isn't the first time that Fitzgerald has been linked with the Galway job. The 52-year-old recalled a time when he considered an offer from Galway in 2019.
“Four years ago, I had an opportunity to take it,” he said. “Let’s just say it was pretty nailed on.
“I pulled at the last second because the time I had in Wexford was unreal and the players were incredibly loyal.
“I had my mind made up; I was gone. The chairman, Derek Kent, said after the game against Tipp in ’19, I told him, "Listen, I can’t do this. I’m just wrecked. I’m going." He said, "Davy, take six weeks now. Don’t say anything."
“After about four or five, I was approached by someone, spent a good bit of time with them, and that was what I would do—Galway.
“Eventually, after a few weeks, I was humming and hawing. I called, and I told that person that I’d do it. That was on a Saturday. They were meant to announce it the following Thursday.
“On Wednesday, I got a few calls from two (Wexford) players, and what they said to me emotionally blackmailed me. I remember saying to Sharon, "I can’t let them down."
“So I changed my mind. I had to call that other person back. I didn’t really want to let them down because he’s an unbelievable person that I’ve worked with before."
The same approach came in 2021 to become Galway's then boss. However, he turned down another approach to stay with Wexford at the time. He then took up a role with Waterford shortly after.
“We roll on two years from that, and the Galway job came up again. It was right there. I said to them, "I understand what I did the last time, but don’t talk to me unless you’re serious. If you want to get someone else, go and do it."
“I was led to believe it was there. A few hours before Henry was unveiled, they told me that they’d had a change of mind. It was probably payback for the last time. Do I hold a grudge? Not at all.”
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