Tributes for one of Cork hurling’s greatest ever
One of Cork hurling’s greatest servants passed away this week after a period of illness.
On Tuesday the news emerged that Cork and Midleton hurling legend Ger Fitzgerald had died on Monday at Marymount Hospice.
A stalwart for Cork and his club team for many years, the corner-forward was a double All-Ireland winning player forming a brilliant forward line with Kevin Hennessy and John Fitzgibbon.
As a player, the 60 year old won two All-Irelands with Cork; the first in 1986 as well as with the immortal double-winning 1990 side. Ger Fitzgerald captained Cork to the 1992 Munster title and won the league in his final campaign the following year. He won three Munster titles with Cork and he scored 11-22 in 21 championship games for the county.
He won four county championships with Midleton, as well as two Munster titles and an All-Ireland club title in 1987/88.
1990 captain Tomás Mulcahy paid tribute on social media on Tuesday. “Very sad news to hear this morning that our colleague and former hurling star Ger Fitzgerald has passed away. What a sad loss to his family and all the Cork GAA community - may you rest in peace Ger.”
In 2021, Fitzgerald was the manager as Midleton won the Premier senior hurling championship for the first time in eight years and he also was Cork U21 manager and a senior selector.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was “very saddened at the passing of Ger Fitzgerald, who made an outstanding contribution to GAA. A talented hurler, Ger won 2 All Irelands with Cork in ‘86 & ‘90.
“He was also a wonderful coach & mentor to so many young people in his beloved Midleton Deepest sympathies to his family,” he added.
Cork GAA also released a tribute: “Ger gave devoted service to the GAA in Cork over many years. A dedicated Midleton clubman, serving in both coaching and administration roles, Ger was manager when Midleton defeated Glen Rovers to win the Co Op Superstores Cork Senior hurling championship title in 2021. The sympathy of Cork GAA and the wider GAA community is extended to Ger’s family, to Midleton GAA and to his colleagues from the Cork teams that he played on and mentored with such distinction. Suaimhneas síoraí dó.”
Clare’s All Ireland winning captain and former manager Anthony Daly said: “What a powerful forward Ger was. RIP to Ger’s family and all in Midleton & Cork GAA.”
Mr Fitzgerald will lie in repose at Hyde’s Funeral Home, Drury’s Avenue, Midleton on Thursday (today) from 5pm – 7.30pm.
His requiem mass will take place in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary, Midleton on Friday at 11am followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.