Davy Fitzgerald 'delighted' Liam Sheedy is back

Davy Fitzgerald says he is pleased Liam Sheedy is back at the top level of intercounty management.

The big hurling news of the week has been Sheedy's return to intercounty management as he takes the reins of his native Tipperary for the second time.

One man who knows fully what it's like to face the Portroe man on the sideline is Davy Fitzgerald. The Clare native was in charge of Waterford during Sheedy's last Tipp tenure, facing the Premier three times between 2008-2010 and winning once.

The Wexford boss is pleased to see the 2010 All-Ireland winner back managing at the top level.

"Delighted to see him, I'm thrilled he's back," said Fitzgerald at the launch of the 2018 Fenway Classic. "It was disappointing to see him go after 2010. I would have liked to see him stay. But obviously he's got that sorted out and he's back. That will add more to it.

"Tipp are going to have a serious team, having him back - he's a good lad, a good man. Bring it on!"

While Tipp will be a serious proposition next season, Fitzgerald warns the hurling landscape is no longer the duopoly that it was when Sheedy left.

He said: "It's not a thing anymore of one or two teams. Now there's six or seven teams there. I don't care who's managing any team. Everyone has a chance. I think that's great for hurling.

"I was delighted to see Limerick win. I can say that with my hand on my heart. I was delighted to see them win for hurling.

"Does it give everyone a chance? Yeah. It does. You take it, Clare, Galway, Limerick, Tipp, Kilkenny. We've have five different winners over the last seven or eight years (SIX). That's good for hurling. If we have another winner again, if it happened to be Wexford, how bad!"