Son of Offaly football folk hero to be appointed as new Tipperary manager

THE son of one of Offaly's most revered former footballers is to be appointed as the new manager of Tipperary senior footballers.

Niall Fitzgerald will replace Philly Ryan whose sudden death a few weeks ago devastated his family and the Tipperary GAA community.

Both are from Clonmel, though the late Ryan was a member of the Clonmel Commercials club while Fitzgerald played with Moyle Rovers, located just outside the town, and winning senior football medals with them during his playing career.

Niall Fitzgerald is a son of Mick Fitzgerald, a brilliant corner back on the Offaly team that won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1982. A teak tough, tenacious, classic tight marking defender, Mick Fitzgerald took care of some of the deadliest forwards in the country during his long career.

The Gracefield man made his Offaly senior football debut in 1973, becoming a regular in 1975. He didn't play championship in 1978, 1979 and 1980 - Offaly suffered hard defeats by Dublin in 1978 and 1979 before unseating them in the 1980 Leinster final - but returned in late 1980 and was a pivotal figure during Offaly football's third golden era. He was outstanding as Offaly reached the All-Ireland final in 1981 and then turned the tables on five in a row seeking Kerry in the 1982 final.

Fitzgerald and his younger brother Pat were star figures and leaders in that defence and Mick Fitzgerald played his last Offaly game in 1986 after winning an All-Star in 1982. His defensive excellence commanded complete respect while his flying two footed tackle on Dublin forward Kieran Duff, and sending off in the 1983 Leinster final defeat, is one of the most memorable, iconic images of that great era.

Mick and Pat Fitzgerald, along with another 1982 hero, Padraig Dunne, were in great form as Gracefield won the 1984 Senior Football Championship, ending Walsh Island's six year reign as champions in the process.

The Fitzgerald's are great examples of the way migration worked for and against Offaly. Bord na Mona brought the family into Offaly in 1967 and they set up home in Cushina, close to both Bracknagh and Walsh Island but in Portarlington parish while work also brought Mick and Pat out of the county – Pat actually went to National School in Bracknagh while Mick was secondary school age when they went to Offaly.

Pat worked with Bord na Mona and set up his family home in Newbridge while Mick was a council official and work brought him to Cork initially and he played with Nemo Rangers there. He later moved to Tipperary and his son Niall became a prominent Tipperary senior footballer, playing minor, U21 and senior for them.

Their father Pat Fitzgerald senior was a Tipperary native while their mother Mary was from the Cork-Limerick border – Pat senior had worked with Bord na Mona in their Ballivor works before moving to Clonsast in Offaly. Mick and Pat both played underage football with Ballivor before they moved to Offaly and Gracefield.

Mick and Pat Fitzgerald only lived in Offaly very briefly – their formative years were spent in Ballivor while they boarded in Ballyfin College and then worked mainly outside of Offaly. Their arrival in Offaly was a great stroke of fortune for the county football team and Gracefield while their departure ensured that they didn't benefit from the next generation, with Niall Fitzgerald giving great service to Tipperary football.

Mick and Pat Fitzgerald have retained a lifelong affection and affinity for Offaly. Pat managed the Offaly senior football team in 1993 and 1994 while him and Mick make sure to attend all the 1982 reunions, holidays and functions.

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A hard working, effective midfielder, Niall Fitzgerald is in his mid forties and retired from county football in 2009. He has managed Tipperary U20 footballers for the past three seasons and stepped down this year. His appointment will be ratified at the next Tipperary County Board meeting.