Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

There are many stories told about Davy Fitzgerald but there's much more to the man than meets the eye, writes Emmet Moloney...

There are a few people in Irish society that require only their first name(s) mentioned (real or otherwise) to bring instant recognition. We have Bono, Gaybo, Bertie, Enda, Dana and a few more. In sport of course we have more than that: Henry, Jimmy Barry, Ruby, Donal Óg, Sean Óg and, of course, Davy.

The new Clare manager has probably become more famous since he hung up his oversized hurley about five years ago. Instantly quotable no matter what he says, Davy is one of those whose name invokes a reaction from all GAA fans. Next spring, when Clare start off their latest hurling adventure, it will be Davy at the helm and it won't be boring.

Last Tuesday night Davy addressed the Clare County Board meeting and spoke eloquently on his appointment as manager. It wasn't widely reported in the national press and that's a pity because he spoke with a depth that would have surprised some of his many critics. He addressed a number of myths that exist about him, particularly the one about himself and his father, Pat, who just happens to be the full-time GAA County Secretary in Clare.

This must have been an awkward situation for both in recent weeks as the clamour for Davy's appointment grew. Thankfully the appearance of any nod and wink arrangement was dealt with when 10 Clare clubs nominated Davy for the position, neglecting to nominate anyone else in the process. This took the sub-committe route out of the equation and also removed Pat Fitzgerald from having any dealings with the appointment of his son. But, being Davy, at last week's meeting he publicly addressed any potential conflict there.

This is a taste of what he said: "As for my own dad, the amount of respect I have for him is unreal. I know he mightn't be all yere cup of tea at times - he has his ways, he's very dogmatic. Trust me, I've fought with him enough myself. But, I will say one thing: I am very proud of him, so I am - that's for definite, whether ye like him or don't like him. That doesn't bother me. He's very honest and straight and the one thing he has in his head is Clare GAA. There's no favour. I look forward to working with him. The relationship with the county board will be right across the board, with the whole lot of them. We'll work together," he added.

Davy had plenty more to say about hurling in Clare and his expectations and the hard work that's ahead. He spoke with clarity and it was a side of him that RTÉ rarely capture in the immediate aftermath of matches. And there was no swearing either!

Conspiracy theorists are plenty in the GAA and most of them now have a computer screen on which to vent their theories. Anthony Daly called them keyboard warriors and far too many of them are lying in the grass waiting for Davy Fitzgerald to fail. At anything.

As a younger man, he might have brought a fraction of those begrudgers on himself by his own impetuousness, but that was then. This is now.

By any fair comparison, he did a great job with Waterford, bringing them to All-Ireland semi-finals in each of his years in charge, finally winning one in 2008. He also became only the second Clare man to manage a team to a Munster senior championship. The first of course was the great Ger Loughnane. That's managerial pedigree. And he wasn't even the Déise's first Clare choice - that man was another pupil of Loughnane's: Anthony Daly, who declined the offer and sent them towards Davy!

I bring Davy up this week because at the age of 40 he will be wearing a jersey and sitting in the Sixmilebridge dug-out this Sunday as his club play a county final. Davy actually came out of retirement for the semi-final as the first choice goalie was injured and the club made the SOS call. He answered it, made a vital save from rising star Conor McGrath (and future student at the Davy Fitz school of Clare county hurling) and helped his parish into the final.

By the way, he didn't burst out of the tunnel in Cusack Park two weeks ago like he did in his pomp on those epic days back in the ྖs, nor did he sprint into his goal mouth giving the crossbar a lash of his hurley. No, he jogged casually to his goal and strolled on and off at his own sedate pace. A sure sign of age and experience.

And maturity. This is why I think Davy might be the right man in the right place for Clare hurling. Thanks to Waterford, he has learnt the ropes and like any normal human being made a few mistakes, with hopefully the Banner county getting the benefit of that experience.

He's certainly the right man in the right place for local newspapers in Clare. I will declare an interest here also as ‘The Clare People’ newspaper is my place of employ and we know we'll get great mileage out of Davy because he is not short of opinions or sharing them. Long may that continue because our games only prosper when characters like Davy are about the place.

The same could be said for Sean Óg Ó hAilpín who this week was recalled to the Cork senior hurling set-up. Maybe he's a little old, maybe his best years are behind him, maybe he's back pour encourager les autres - which, roughly translated, means to smooth the way for a possible return by Setanta or Aisake down the road!

No matter, he's back. Like Davy, he's another instantly recognisable sports star whose surname has become redundant. Sean Óg's recall was a good move by Jimmy Barry. He did it early in his reign and whether Sean Óg plays or not next year, he had earned the chance to choose his own exit.

I presume Jimmy Barry cleared it with Frank! To catch Emmet's latest column, get 'The Irish Farmers' Journal' every Thursday...