Playing Career
However it was not until 1903 that ‘Dickeen’, as he was familiarly called, came before the public eye, when Kerry played Kildare in the All-Ireland final. These games became part of sporting history when Kerry wrested the All-Ireland championship from the “ All Whites” after three encounters.
In 1906, at the invitation of the Kerrymen of New York, he visited the USA and played for Kerry in the New York Championship, which they won. He also took part in the Croke Memorial, which pitted Kerry against Louth. This game went to a replay with Kerry winning it at Jones Road. It was the first time a four-figure sum was received for a match and with this money the G.A.A purchased Croke Park.
Fitzgerald captained the two winning teams of 1913 and 1914 against Wexford but retired from the game he loved so much after their defeat in 1915 against the same opposition. This did not stop Fitzgerald’s fascination with the beautiful game.
After the 1916 Easter Rising he was held in detention in South Wales. Here he organized with other Gaelic prisoners an All-Ireland Competition himself leading Kerry to a one point victory in the final over Louth. Overall he won 5 All-Ireland medals with Kerry and 10 Munster Championship medals as well as winning the first two Railway shields with Munster beating Leinster.
Read more about this topic: Dick Fitzgerald
Famous quotes containing the words playing and/or career:
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—Charlotte Davis Kasl (20th century)
“From a hasty glance through the various tests I figure it out that I would be classified in Group B, indicating “Low Average Ability,” reserved usually for those just learning to speak the English Language and preparing for a career of holding a spike while another man hits it.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)