Thomas Fitzgerald (born 1983) is an Irish hurlingmanager and former player who, as of 2024, is the manager of the Laois senior hurling team. He was a dual player at club level with Portlaoise and was also a member of the Laois senior hurling team.
Playing career
Fitzgerald began his club career with Portlaoise as a dual player at underage levels. He won minor and under-21 championship titles in both hurling and Gaelic football before progressing to the club's respective senior teams as a dual player. Fitzgerald won nine Laois SFC medals and one Laois SHC between 2002 and 2013. He also won two Leinster Club SFC medals.[1]
On the inter-county scene, Fitzgerald first played hurling for Laois during a two-year tenure with the minor team in 2000 and 2001. He later lined out with the under-21 team. Fitzgerald made his senior team debut in 2002. He won a National League Division 2 medal that year before later claiming an All-Ireland SBHC medal after a 2–20 to 2–07 defeat of Wicklow in the final.[2]
Fitzgerald won a second Division 2 medal in 2007 before leaving the panel in March 2011 following a disagreement with team manager Brendan Fennelly.[3] He returned to the panel shortly after and claimed a third Division 2 medal in 2013. Fitzgerald retired from inter-county hurling 2015.[4]
Management career
Fitzgerald was part of Eddie Brennan's management team when Brennan guided Laois to the Joe McDonagh Cup title in 2019.[5] Fitzgerald later switched to club coaching with St Thomas' in Galway.[6] After coaching the club to three successive Galway SHC titles, Fitzgerald's side claimed the All-Ireland Club SHC title in 2024 after an 0–18 to 0–17 defeat of O'Loughlin Gaels.[7]
Fitzgerald succeeded Darren Gleeson as the Laois senior team manager in November 2024.[8]
