Lee Chin: “There Was No Other Direction We Could Take…”

Both Lee Chin and Dee O’Keeffe were awarded illustrious All-Star hurling awards on Friday evening…

Both players were central to Wexford’s success this year, a year that saw the Model County attain the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the first time since John O’Connor walked the steps of the Hogan Stand in 2004.

One must question if it would have been possible without Davy Fitzgerald as the Wexford Senior hurling manager.

Speaking to TodayFM, Wexford’s joint-captain Lee Chin stated that the Wexford players were in limbo about the whole managerial will-he won’t-he situation that transpired since the Yellowbellies’ exit out of the championship.

The Faythe Harriers club man revealed that the team stayed in contact with Fitzgerald, attempting to lure the Banner man in for another season:

“It was a case where the players, we just didn’t know what way it was going to go. Us as players, we knew we just needed this man back. There was no other direction we could take, we just had to go bald-headed for this guy.”

“We stayed in touch with him, we tried to put as much pressure on, but we didn’t want to put too much pressure on because we thought it could go the other way as well. We’re extremely grateful for the time Davy has given us.”

“The commitment that man puts into Wexford hurling and what he’s doing and what he has done with Wexford hurling to date and I know what he’ll continue to do, is just outstanding. It’s something that I don’t think any other manager in the country has possibly done.

“I think for hurling, what he’s done is just incredible.”

“There’s not many managers in the country that do that and Davy is doing that three to four nights a week. He’s never missed a session and he’s just so passionate and into it.”

“I think that’s what it is that drives him, that gets him up and down the road is just how much he loves it.”

Chin, and Wexford supporters alike, are delighted that Clare native Fitzgerald has agreed to stay on – not just for one, but for another two campaigns with the Yellowbellies.

Under his stewardship, clear progress has been made, but we’re hopeful of more.

Photo Credit: Nicola Reddy

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