Maurice Fitzgerald (footballer)

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Maurice Fitzgerald
Personal information
Sport	Gaelic football
Place of birth	Kerry , Ireland
Nickname(s)	Maurice Fitz
Club information
Club	St. Marys
Position	_
Club(s)*
Club	Years	Apps (scores)
St. Marys	1986-Present
Inter-County
County	Kerry
Position	-
Inter-County(ies)**
County	Years	Apps (scores)
Kerry	circa 1988-2001
Senior Inter-County Titles
Munster Titles	6
All-Ireland	2
All Stars	3
* club appearances and scores correct as of {{{clupdate}}}. **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of {{{icupdate}}}.

Maurice Fitzgerald is a former Kerry Gaelic Athletic Association football player. He was a member of the Kerry Senior Football Panel from circa 1988-2001.

He plays club football for St. Marys, Caherciveen.

[edit] Reputation

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Fitzgerald is regarded as one of the most talented footballers of his era.^{[citation needed]} His emergence in the late eighties corresponded with a downturn in Kerry fortunes and it wasn't until 1997 that Fitzgerald finally got to an All-Ireland final. Chipping over 9 points of a winning total of 13, Fitzgerald helped Kerry defeat Mayo by 0-13 to 1-07, and the game became known as the 'Maurice Fitzgerald final'.^{[citation needed]}

He won a second all-Ireland medal in the 2000 championship but was deployed more as a super sub, being particularly effective in the first semi-final with Armagh when he scored a fantastic individual goal before equalising with a 50 yard free in the last seconds of the match.

In 2001 he performed even more heroics. Just when it seemed that Fitzgerald had done it all and couldn't shock anymore Kerry were awarded a sideline kick against Dublin in the All Ireland Quarter Final. Kerry were cruising but had lost their concentration and had allowed Dublin to lead in the last minute. With Dublin Manager Tommy Carr shouting in his ear and the defeaning roar of the crowd, Fitzgerald kicked the ball with the outside of his boot on his bad side over the bar in what has described as one of the Top 20 GAA Moments in Championship football.

Despite this Fitzgerald couldn't get on the starting 15 in the replay or in the subsequent semi-final thrashing at the hands of Meath. This was the last straw for Fitzgerald and he retired from the inter county scene.

He has since won the County Championship in Kerry 3 times in a row and is still revered by many in his native county.

[edit] Career Awards

Fitzgerald has won two All-Ireland medals, 1 National League medal, 6 Munster championship medals, three GAA All Stars Awards,was named Footballer of the year in 1997 and has won three Kerry Senior Football medals.

References

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2002/0424/breaking23.htm

Preceded by Martin O'Connell Meath	Texaco Footballer of the Year 1997	Succeeded by Michael Donnellan (Galway)
Preceded by Martin O'Connell Meath	All Stars Footballer of the Year 1997	Succeeded by Michael Donnellan (Galway)