WITH Pat Treacy
Earlier this week, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick called time on his hurling career with Kilkenny.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks man won five All-Ireland medals, three National Hurling League medals, three All-Stars, and in 2006 he was named Young Hurler of the Year. He went on to captain Kilkenny to their third All-Ireland victory in a row in 2008.
The Knockmoylan native is only 26 years of age, and he has decided to retire from inter-county hurling because he could not re-establish himself on the Kilkenny team during the 2011 season.
“I set a target for myself at the start of this year of getting myself back into the Kilkenny team but it didn’t work out for me. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about it and I think it’s the right decision for me at this stage,” he said.
“I would like to have played more for Kilkenny but I didn’t seem to be getting the chance. I’m going to take a break and do a bit of travelling next summer.
“There’s four or five of us going to head off to California for the summer. I’ve been hurling non-stop since I was 12, and I suppose you lose a bit of hunger.
“I feel I need a break. When you’re young and you come into the county panel you’re willing to wait to get your chance and I feel I did that. But when you’ve played for a few years and you can’t get back it’s different.
“When you are sitting on the bench it’s hard to keep the motivation to keep going. I thought I was very fit this year and I felt I was going well in training but it just didn’t seem to work out for me.”
Year off
“I can’t see myself coming back to inter-county hurling after the year off. Midfielders are now expected to hurl from one 21 yard line to the other,” he said.
“I just can’t compete with the likes of Michael Fennelly and Michael Rice in that department. Midfield is no longer just a link between the forwards and the backs. I’m not the fastest and I’m not getting faster.
“I wouldn’t see myself coming back with Kilkenny after the break. To be honest I don’t think I have the pace for that level.”
Lifting the McCarthy Cup
“Lifting the McCarthy Cup is the greatest thing I will ever achieve as a hurler,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to play with great players in the club and county that enabled me to lift the McCarthy Cup. I’m absolutely thrilled to win five All-Ireland medals and only for all the other great players on the squad I couldn’t have done that.
“This year was a brilliant year for Kilkenny winning the All Ireland. But for me winning an All Ireland on the bench and winning one on the field are worlds apart. There is only one place to be.
“There is no greater thrill than to be in there in the heat of battle with hurls flying in a big match. Every player has to take stock at the end of the year and I didn’t reach my goals this year. So I think it’s time to move on.”
Mind made up
“If the Shamrocks had won the county final it wouldn’t have made any difference to my decision to retire from playing with the county,” he said.
“My mind was made up at that stage. I put everything into getting my place back with Kilkenny and it didn’t happen.
“It was as simple as that. I said at the beginning of the year that I would give it everything to get back but sadly it didn’t happen for me.”
An interview with Cha Fitzpatrick will be broadcast on KCLR96fm Saturday Sports Focus 12 noon to 2pm.
