Davy Fitzgerald has confirmed 2021 will be his last year in charge of the Wexford hurlers, and the Clareman has hit back at criticism from Ger Loughnane.
The former Banner goalkeeper is to remain at the helm of the Model County's senior team, despite an early exit from this year's Championship.
Wexford suffered a seven point defeat to Clare last weekend, having earlier lost by 13 points to Galway in Leinster.
In his column in The Star newspaper yesterday, Loughnane took Fitzgerald to task for what he saw as 'deflecting' and not taking responsibility for poor displays by his team.
While pointing to the Sixmilebridge native's accomplishments as a manager in the game, Loughnane wrote that Fitzgerald's 'obsession with himself is undermining what he achieved'.
Speaking to Alan Corcoran on the Morning Mix on South East Radio, Fitzgerald gave Loughnane both barrels in return, bringing up an incident from 2013, when Fitzgerald guided Clare to the All Ireland title.
"I remember the night I asked him to present the medals to the team in 2013, he actually said to them that night he didn't rate them a good team until they won a second one, which I thought was a very nasty thing to say to them."
When it came to the question of ego, Fitzgerald countered against his former mentor.
"The only one that's 'me, me, me' is Ger Loughnane and that's the way it's always been. My honest opinion is I feel a bit sorry for him. Ger doesn't get involved with any clubs. He hasn't been involved with anyone since he was with Galway and didn't have a good time. He actually couldn't read the game. If you look at probably any of his articles, he can't read the game. He doesn't see what's going on and that. Listen, he has to do what he has to do and if he's making a few quid from it, grand, but let's just say, he wouldn't be really up on what's happening in the GAA world, in my view."
Fitzgerald added that pity was his primary emotion when it came to the 1995 and 1997 Liam McCarthy Cup winning boss.
"I don't actually hate Ger Loughnane - I just feel sorry for him. Every single week he is having a cut at someone. It will be me today and trust me, it will be someone else again in a few weeks. I can actually remember him having a right go at Wexford if I am right, in 1996 or 1997. He wasn't too complimentary to Wexford as far as I remember back then either."
The Yellowbellies won their first Leinster title in 15 years under Fitzgerald last year, before narrowly losing to Tipperary in the All Ireland semi finals. It gives Fitzgerald hope that there's one last hurrah in his players.
"Next year is my final year with Wexford and I will be giving it everything I can. It's a long commute. I appreciate the people that have been nice to me in Wexford and I think I haven't let them down. No matter what happens next year, I think I have had a great time in Wexford and we've achieved quite a lot."
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