Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald says he disagrees with Ger Loughnane's stinging criticism of Galway ahead of an All-Ireland quarter-final date with the Tribesmen.
The Banner defeated Limerick in the second round of the qualifiers to ensure they will be hurling at the end of July for the first time in three years, when a youthful side lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Clare were wasteful in front of goal, but proved too strong for TJ Ryan’s side and will now face Galway for a place in the last four.
The county’s winning manager in 1995 and 1997 Loughnane sparked a war of words with Galway after describing their recent Leinster final defeat by Kilkenny as “gutless” and compared manager Micheál Donoghue's sideline presence and demeanor to Dermot Morgan's Fr Trendy character.
Former decorated Galway hurler Ollie Canning argued the criticism was an "insult" and said that a 10-point loss to Kilkenny in an All-Ireland quarter-final represented the “highlight” during Loughnane’s disappointing two-year stint in charge of the Tribesmen.
Loughnane followed up his initial criticism by describing Canning’s criticism as “laughable” as the player, along with brother Joe, opted out of the panel in 2007 and questioned their commitment and attitude.
“Joe wouldn't play either, giving the excuse that he was going on a world tour. I think it extended as far as Limerick,” he wrote in his column.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the win over Limerick, Fitzgerald distanced himself from the comments of his former manager ahead of the meeting the Leinster finalists in the last-eight.
“It isn’t a help if you meet Galway after what our own county man has said about them,” he said.
“We don’t agree with that. Galway have been in two All-Irelands in four years. They have won a Leinster, they are a fair team.
“It’s going to be a battle no matter who we get.”
Fitzgerald has first-hand experience of working with Canning during the Galway star's time with LIT and believes the gifted forward, and the current manger, came in for unwarranted criticism.
“The Cannings are unreal. I worked with Joe for a long time, an incredible player,” he told RTÉ Sport.
“Let me say something as well about Micheál Donoghue. He managed Clarinbridge to an All-Ireland club and he’s a serious guy.
“We have nothing but respect for them. There will be no animosity there.”
Reflecting on the win, Fitzgerald was pleased to end their recent qualifier jinx as 2013 Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly bagged nine points for the Banner, but knows bigger challenges lie in wait.
“I think we made it hard on ourselves, we had a lot of wides (14),” he said.
“We should have been more than six points up at half-time, but we did what we had to do and got the result."
