'We're all club people, but we're all Laois people too'- Laois GAA hurling manager Tommy Fitzgerald

When Portlaoise exited the Laois Senior Hurling Championship at the hands of Abbeyleix in September 2024, Tommy Fitzgerald couldn’t have foreseen that just months later, he’d be preparing to lead Laois into the Allianz Hurling League as the county’s new Senior Hurling manager.

Fitzgerald’s unexpected appointment followed the unfortunate news that Darren Gleeson, originally set to take the reins, would be unable to do so due to a recent cancer diagnosis. Reflecting on the situation, Fitzgerald spoke with compassion about Gleeson’s health battle at a local media event held ahead of Laois' opening game against Westmeath.

"We all know the circumstances with Darren Gleeson. Very unfortunate circumstances really, if the truth be told. I got a phone call after Darren had got the news and spoken to the county board, and I had a decision to make quickly then. Darren got the bad news, and I suppose initially just our thoughts went to him. I know he's going through treatment at the moment, so it's a tough time for him and his family. I know he had a lot of work done in terms of preparing things in the background. Such unfortunate circumstances really,” said Fitzgerald.

The news broke in November, leaving Laois in urgent need of a new manager. Fitzgerald, understanding the need for swift action, made his decision 'within 48 hours'.

"A few conversations were had at home, alright, you know yourself. It was late, and if you're going to do it, I couldn't dwell on it too long because I was conscious that most counties were organised at that stage and were probably up and running doing bits. When PJ rang me, I said I'd be back within 48 hours, and I was,” he said.

A major influence in Fitzgerald’s decision was the willingness of Niall Corcoran to join his backroom team. The pair worked together in 2019 under Eddie Brennan, a season that saw Laois claim the Joe McDonagh Cup and defeat Dublin in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

"Niall Corcoran is in with me. Myself and Niall have been very friendly over the years, and we've kept in close contact since we last worked together here. He was probably my first phone call, and when he was on board, it helped in terms of making a decision. We started putting the other pieces of the jigsaw together after that. It took time really to have everyone in place, but we don't have a big background team either compared to maybe some other counties. I imagine it's quite small, but we've got people in there, really good people, so we're happy,” Fitzgerald explained.

The decision to step away from Portlaoise, however, was not an easy one with Fitzgerald having spent two years as the manager.

"That was probably the biggest stumbling block in terms of making that decision because we'd put a lot into the last two years with the club and did a lot of heavy lifting over those two years and very close to the group. It was tough, there's no point in saying any different, but you have to make those decisions,” he said.

Despite his strong connection to his club, Fitzgerald sees his role with Laois as a natural extension of his passion for the game and the county.

"We're all club people, and I'm very passionate about my club. I know all the lads are very passionate about their clubs as well, but at the end of the day, we're all still Laois people. I played for a long time with Laois and was involved previously, and even over the last couple of years, you're playing every ball in the stand as well. It means a lot to me and everybody involved. We're all club people, but we're all Laois people at the end of the day as well,” he said.

Fitzgerald is no stranger to hurling at the highest level, but stepping into the role of inter-county manager has already presented its unique challenges.

"I'm starting to see that now, it's busy. What we're finding hardest at the moment is just the lack of preparation time really. We've Westmeath next weekend, and we could do with another couple of weeks, to be honest. We've only had two challenge games, and when you're in a new management team, you’d like to have more time with the players. You have a new backroom team as well, and you're getting to know everyone,” he said.

While Fitzgerald’s heart remains in coaching, he acknowledges the additional demands that come with management.

"Coaching, that's a fairly simple answer for me now. I suppose when you're coaching, your focus is a lot narrower. There's a lot in it. There's planning, your video work, your liaison with the other coaches, with the manager, with the S&C, but there's a lot that has to be done. Logistics and man-management and extras when you're managing. Sometimes you'd rather not have to deal with it, but it's part and parcel of it. I knew what I was getting into, so it's not as if I'm coming into it blind,” he concluded.

Laois take on Westmeath on Saturday, January 25 from 2pm in TEG Cusack Park Mullingar in the opening round of Division 1 of the Allianz Hurling Leagues.