Davy Fitz Could Face Sanction Over Tirade Claiming Some Officials 'Despise' Him

Galway obliterated Antrim on Saturday in the Leinster hurling round robin, winning 6-27 to 1-14.

The Tribesmen had built a 2-12 to 0-8 first half lead when the game's pivotal play occurred. Antrim's Declan McCloskey flung Galway's Tom Monaghan to the ground. Linesman Johnny Murphy alerted referee Thomas Gleeson to the incident and McCloskey received a red card. Antrim were clinging on before the red card. The decision effectively ended the game.

Antrim manager Davy Fitzgerald was clearly unhappy with the decision and confronted the officials after the halftime whistle was blown.

After the fulltime whistle was blown, he stormed down the tunnel after a quick handshake with Micheal Donohue

Speaking to Siobhan McNamara on RTÉ Radio's Saturday Sport after the game, Fitzgerald accused Monaghan of provoking McCloskey with a punch just before the incident. He also said he'd be bringing the incident to Croke Park.

He went on to allege that Murphy - who refereed last year's All-Ireland final - 'despises' him.

DF: I'll disagree with you on that. League was pretty OK, so it was. Championship-wise I thought we played OK against Wexford should have been a lot better.

Kilkenny, did OK.

Dublin ,weren't happy. Today once again once the man was sent off, it was over, but our issue with the man sending off, and we wouldn't have won the game by the way, is he got a punch in the stomach before that and nothing was done.

The way one of our players was treated by the officials is something we're going to go to Croke Park and talk about as well.

We're not happy with that. Would it have made a difference today? No way.

We weren't near in Galway’s class today, but there's certain things in the GAA we have to look at and that's it.

But we're not happy with our performance. That's the most important thing there.

We're not. Our second half, lost our shape.

We knew what we wanted to try and do, but we weren't good.

Galway were a lot better than us, but there's certain things have to be looked at even outside of that.

We need to look at ourselves and we'll start that, but there's other things that's not acceptable, and I won't accept what that did in the first half.

When you get a punch in the stomach and you retaliate, that means there's two players in trouble, not one.

S Mc: And what did [referee] Thomas Gleeson say to him because there seemed to be a bit of a conversation before the red card was issued.

No, it wasn't him. It was Johnny Murphy seeing it and Johnny Murphy now, probably Johnny Murphy wouldn't have any time for me, number one.

That's out there.

Everybody knows that. Himself and one or two more of them.

They actually despise me, and that's fine.

Would have made a difference there? It wouldn't make a difference.

Galway better were than us, way better than us, and there's no getting away from that.

I'm just disappointed how we played as a team in the second half.

We didn't fight the way we should have fought.

It was too easy for Galway out there.

While Fitzgerald hinted at an appeal for McCloskey's red, he might face sanction for his comments to RTÉ. It's unlikely the GAA will look kindly on such accusations against its officials, who while fallible, operate without prejudice.

Antrim will travel to Tullamore next week to play Offaly in a game with massive ramifications for 2026, as the loser will be relegated from Liam MacCarthy hurling. Offaly were also beaten Saturday v Wexford but put up a battle.