Davy Fitzgerald says he receives far more criticism than "other managers there three or four years and have won zero". On Sunday, Fitzgerald's Waterford won their first game of this year's Munster Hurling Championship, defeating Tipperary by six points in Thurles.
The victory wasn't enough to lift Waterford from the bottom of the table as they had already lost to Limerick, Cork and Clare.
"We're in the job five months, I'd swear I was there five years. There’s other managers there three or four years and have won zero and are not getting half the hassle. What the... is that about?" Fitzgerald told reporters after the game.
Fitzgerald said Waterford had just "two halves that were poor" in the in championship and those cost his side.
“If we beat Limerick in the first round, what do you think would have happened today? Tipp are out of the championship and we’re probably through. That's how it goes. It’s that close so it is," he said.
“It annoys me so much that you get cut the way we got cut after two bad [matches]. We played well against Limerick, should have won it. The first half against Cork, were poor. The second half, we matched them, had three goals chances and didn't take them.
28 May 2023; Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald meets the team arriving to the dressing room before the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Tipperary and Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
"Against Clare, we were matching them, had 12 wides to their four at half-time... We had a poor second half - it affected us. Out of the whole championship, we’d two halves that were poor and we got punished badly.
“But to listen to some of the crap that I’d to listen to the last few weeks is absolutely disgraceful and annoying.
"I'm proud for the boys. The boys have trained so hard. They have worked so hard, and it's so annoying to see them being treated the way they've been treated. They showed today what they are about and fair play to them.
"Maybe last year they went to Ennis and there was nothing to play for but every time we have put on that Waterford jersey, I want them to play with that pride and that passion that they did there.
"I really want to thank the genuine people that backed us. They meant the world, and they can see a glimpse of what we can do. The only chance we have is to get people behind us. There's enough of hardship in life without knocking. We need to stop that and get behind each other.
"It's been a tough month. There's no one been harder than ourselves. To my team, and my backroom, I love them to bits and they've given me everything."
Davy Fitzgerald interview after Tipperary vs Waterford
See Also: Canning Shows How Big Decisions Went In Limerick Favour Vs Cork
