All-Ireland winning boss Davy Fitzgerald and new Limerick coach TJ Ryan engaged in verbals far more interesting than the game itself as the Banner came through Sunday’s Waterford Crystal League match between the pair with a 1-14 to 0-11 win in Sixmilebridge.
Clare started with only one player from the team that won the All-Ireland final replay last September, but it was the reaction of Ryan to their tackling that made most headlines.
Six players were booked in a tough encounter and Ryan said afterwards, “I was dubious enough about some of this new Clare tackling system.
“I don’t know how it’s seen from a refereeing point of view. When a guy loses the ball he gets wrapped up, then the third man in picks up the ball.
“I don’t know if that’s a Waterford Crystal rule or a league rule. Another guy comes in and he’s wrapped up, then a third man comes in and takes away the ball. Is that legal? We’ll have to look at it.
“There’s a lot of it happening so, if you can’t beat them, join them, isn’t that what they say?”
In response, Fitzgerald laughed at Ryan’s complaints and blasted, “I think TJ is off the charts. That’s ridiculous stuff. Welcome to the big league TJ.”
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