Davy Fitzgerald slapped with eight-week ban by GAA as Antrim hurling woes deepen
ANTRIM'S hurling woes have gone from bad to worse after manager Davy Fitzgerald was hit with an eight-week suspension by the GAA.
News of the ban comes after the
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Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald has been handed an eight-week ban by the GAA
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The ban comes after Antrim suffered another defeat to relegate them to the Joe McDonagh for 2026
The county will play Joe McDonagh Cup hurling next year thanks to yesterday's
in Tullamore.
The defeat was their fifth loss in as many games.
But the fallout off the pitch has now gotten worse as Fitzgerald was punished for comments made following Antrim's round four defeat to Galway earlier this month.
Fitzgerald took aim at the officiating after Declan McCloskey was shown red during the clash at Pearse Stadium.
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He told
"Everybody knows that himself and one or two more of them, they actually despise me and that's fine. I can get over that.
The Clare native was cited under the GAA rule of
And the GAA's Central Hearings Committee ruled against him on Thursday night and issued the ban.
Most read in GAA Hurling
Fitzgerald can now appeal the suspension and could bring it as far as the Disputes Resolution Authority if necessary.
Meanwhile,
Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview -
The Clare man expressed dismay at McNaughton's comments, and says he will take time to consider his future as manager after dropping out of the top tier.
He said: 'To the knockers, you're not doing Antrim any favours. That's all I'll say to you. You think you're big men, you're not big men.
'I have good time for Sambo, I'm just so disappointed in him.
'He was in management, probably didn't do great. I have so much respect for him and I'm just so disappointed in what he did but he's entitled to his opinion.
'He's entitled to his opinion.
"It's the same with anything you do. I'm not going to say anything bad about him because I'm just disappointed, just disappointed in him.
'It doesn't need that, we're trying our absolute best so we don't need the likes of that but he's entitled to his opinion.'
When asked if he was staying on for a second year, Fitzgerald said: 'I just want time. I'm just really proud of them today, they did so well.
"I couldn't be prouder of them. I'm just absolutely shattered now.
'I'm just going to take a bit of time and just relax. I keep saying to you after Waterford last year, I was done. I knew I was done after Waterford last year.
'But a friend who has been very good to me persuaded me to come up to Antrim and I never regretted it. I just need a bit of time. I'm not saying I won't. I'm not saying that.
'I think you can tell by me I'm just absolutely beat, just tired. So just — we'll see what happens.'
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