Davy Fitz claims he's despised by certain officials

Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald receives a yellow card from referee Thomas Gleeson during the Leinster SHC clash against Galway at Fitzgerald Stadium ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Antrim hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald believes that a section of match officials within the GAA "despise" him.

The Clare native was speaking after his team’s 28-point defeat to Galway in the Leinster senior hurling championship yesterday, which saw the Saffrons reduced to 14 men as Declan McCloskey was red carded in the run up to half-time in Salthill.

Linesman Johnny Murphy spotted an off the ball incident which led to referee Thomas Gleeson giving McCloskey his marching orders and, speaking to RTE Sport after the game, Fitzgerald claimed that his player’s sending off came after he’d reacted to being punched by an opponent.

"Once the man was sent off, it was over. Our issue with the sending off, and we wouldn't have won, by the way, but he got a punch in his stomach before that and nothing was done," he said.

"The way one of our players was treated by the officials is something about we're going to go to Croke Park and talk about it. We’re not happy with that.

Antrim Hurling Manager Davy Fitzgerald’s interview with @madagain100 on @SatSportRTE @RTERadio1 following 14 man Antrim’s 28 point loss to Galway in the Leinster Hurling Championship. #GAA pic.twitter.com/jArLNTELVH

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"Would it have made a difference? No way. We weren’t near Galway’s class today but there’s certain things in the GAA we have to look at and that’s it.

"We are not happy with our performance, that's the most important thing there. In the second half, we lost our shape. We knew what we wanted to do but we weren’t good, Galway were better that us.

"We need to look at ourselves and we’ll sort that out but there are other things that are not acceptable and I won’t accept what happened in the first-half. When you get a punch and you retaliate that means there’s two players, not one."

Fitzgerald also claimed that he’s “despised” by certain officials, by adding: "It was Johnny Murphy that seen and Johnny Murphy now wouldn’t have any time for me anyway - that’s out there.

"Everybody knows that himself and one or two more of them, they actually despise me and that's fine, I can get over that. But don't take it out on the players, you have to see everything.

"Would that have made a difference? It wouldn’t have made a difference, Galway were way better than us and there’s no getting away from that. I’m disappointed with how we played in the second half, we didn’t fight the way we should have fought, it was too easy for Galway out there."