One of the greats, he owes Wexford nothing. Will always be associated with the revolutionarly decade that was the 90’s, and had a few decent days in the noughties too.
Have ye anything coming after him?
One of the greats is right, think his time was up after the whole Meyler thing, know he hasn’t happy about that and so much has changed since he started his inter-county career.
There’s Dermot Flynn who’s been his understudy for last couple of years, some wanted him in the goal last year i think, don’t totally trust him but he hasn’t been given a real chance on the big stage yet so only time will tell.
Hurling was blessed with three of the greatest keepers playing pretty much at the same time-the 2 Fitzy’s and Cummins.
Fitzhenry was class-the best Wexford keeper (after Pat Nolan) and oft times was the winning of matches for us.
I was at all the games in his debut year, disappointed that he had replaced the mercurial Stoney Burke, and for a brief period, Pat Nolan’s son in goals.
Little did I know what the Duffry man would add to Wexford hurling over the next few years.
His debut year was the usual “nearly men” story. A 3 game National League Final against Cork, which Cork eventually won and then the famous 93 Leinster Final against the Cats.
We had Kilkenny beat, and everyone remembers Billy Byrne in possession in the last minute, only to lose it and Eamon Morrissey slotting over the equalizing point down the other end, just before the whistle.
Kilkenny won handy enough the next day and went on to add to their All-Ireland tally.
Then it was Griffin time. 1995 was a horrible year-a loss to Meath in the League and a trimming from Offaly in the Leinster semi. Fitzy’s career promised a lot in his debut year but had crashed all round him in the years after.
In those barren years, he was nearly always our best player though-super long puck outs too.
Can’t remember what happened in 1996.
Fitzy had an amazing ability to pull off blinding saves. What made him stand out from other keepers was that he used to wait until the very last second, not until the ball was struck at him that is, to make his dive. So many keepers would be gone a second before the strike.
His saves frustrated a lot of forwards, so much so that I remember some of them through on goal but would tap the ball over the bar, such was his presence.
My favourite Fitzy save was against Martin Comerford, 2005 I think. Comerford gathered the ball, 25 yards out and tore down on goal, one and one. He hit an absolute rasper from about 14 yards out, Fitzy dived and somehow got to it. Amazing save.
Billy Dooley save stands out as well in the 97 Leinster semi in the last couple of minutes. A rasping shot, that Fitzy not only got down to save, but flick away, all in the one motion as Offaly forwards were waiting to pounce on the rebound.
He scored his fair share of important goals too-including 2 against Limerick in 01, 1 against Offaly in 96 and of course against Tipp in 07.
Another amazing thing about Fitzy too was that he pretty much always played out the field for his club in the senior championship-Cummins and d’other Fitzy did not. For a couple of years he was up there as the one of the most dangerous forwards in the county.
He was our keeper and he was a great one.
Great summation Pikeman, didnt he also do a a NHL campaign at right corner forward?
Don’t remember him corner forward now-remember him playing Wing Back alright. Someone else might know the corner forward game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmU3VauO9Hg
I remember as a teenager having already suffered the troubled tenure of Ted Morrissey between the stick for Wexford. Paul Nolan offered some hope for the future but never seemed able to put his best performances in for the County side. Following the brief and ill-fated Stoney Burke experiment there seemed to be a lack of options that we could hope would keep the Cats at bay were they to penetrate our last line of defence.
On a Sunday in Spring of 1993 the family headed to Nowlan Park for the league quarter-final against Limerick. There wa a new 'keeper who didn’t look like he was long out of the U-14 grade. Though the opposition was not of the highest quality there was instantly a lack of the worry that I had felt when we were relying on the previous three incumbents to give the defence an extra air of confidence. Puck outs foudn Storey with ease and set up an excellent attacking platform.
Over the following 18 years he has never failed to give his all for the Wexford cause and how he only claimed two All Stars is beyond belief. Where Brendan Cummins would make a flying save only to see the ball rebound to a Kilkenny forward Fitzhenry managed to deflect the ball away from the goal and away from danger. He was equally dangerous from set pieces as Limerick, Tipperary and Offaly fans will no doubt tesity.
My two favorite Fitzhenry memories are the last minute free he struck against Limerick in 2001 to gift Wexford a last minute win and the way he kept Kilkenny at bay ion the 2004 Leinster semi-final - building the platform for the last minute ambush.
The road for Wexford hurling has darkened over the last few years and this announcement sees the brightest light in the last 18 years walk away from the scene.
Thanks for the memories Fitzy.
That’s the save right there from Comerford-unreal.
Fitzy gave us all some great memories over the last 18 years … most of the highlights for me have been highlighted here such as the goals against limerick in 2001 and keeping the cats at bay with that super save in 2004 … flynn has big boots to fill now and we all hope he can give us memories like fitzy did
Best memory for me was 2007 against Tipp. The moment when the free was ordered and Barry Lambert just held the ball in the air looking back to the other end and everyone knew what was coming. I was thousands of miles away in a bar in Thailand watching on a screen no bigger than a laptop screen roaring my head off to much joking from the locals! Zanussi from AFR was in the bar as well. Anyway, Fitzy obliged has he often has. Fantastic stuff.
He can single handedly be thanked for winning the Leinster title in 2004. Whatever about the Kilkenny game but he pulled off saves like never before in the final against Offaly. I’ve been saying for the past 12 months that he should be employed by the county board to coach as the man has been out of work for over a year. He owes the county nothing but I’d like to see him back managing an underage team in a few years time.
Thanks for the memories Fitzy.
Good luck to Fitzhenry - what a player. 
He played the 1996 league campaign at left half back, MBB. Went back in goal for the championship after struggling against Joe Rabbitte in the league quarter final. He’s the greatest Wexford goalkeeper ever by streets.
Fair enough, really thought I’d seen him play corner forward, might just have been a Walsh Cup game perhaps or else I am talking through my hole.
Whos lined up to be replacement for Fitzhenry? big big shoes to fill. I know youve mention Flynn but is there anyone else
It will be Dermot Flynn of Rathnure all right - he’s been understudy for the last couple of years. Bonnar has two other 'keepers with the panel at the moment - Noel Carton (Cloughbawn ) and last year’s minor 'keeper Mark Fanning (Glynn/Barntown).
What about Eanna Martin? was impressed with him anytime ive seen him for UCC. I know hes playing out the field for them the last 2yrs though
He played in the forwards last year; came off the bench in a couple of games and started against Limerick. But Bonnar in his wisdom has dropped him completely from the panel.
Éanna played centre back for either UCC or UCD recently and starred by all accounts.
Any chance Matty White (saved my life, got me back with my ex-wife, say Matty White) and his tracksuit bottoms might make a return?
UCC.
He was only brought on against LIT, must have started the last day then.
Won a Fitzgibbon last year too, brought on last few mins. Don’t think we’ll be seeing him back in goals.
Flynn does seem an excellent keeper to be fair-the very odd mistake but solid enough.
It was inevitable, but sad to see when it happened. The greatest keeper we have had and one of the greatest players. His committment to the cause was remarkable.
As noted by Pikeman in his excellent piece above, Fitzy had a great technique for shot stopping, which was meant to firstly stop the shot and secondly get the sliothar away from danger. Nothing was ever possible however without incredible bravery and committment.
We were lucky to have him. We wouldn’t have won in 1996 without him and its hard to see the last playing connection with that team leaving us.
18 years - 2 All Stars (should have had more).
Despite him being a Duffry man, I wish him and the Fitzhenry family well.
This man has been a remarkable servant for such a long time to Wexford GAA, he deserves all the platitudes he gets.
Now we look forward to his continued involvement in Wexford GAA. Damien’s a very intelligent guy and a natural leader who we should be looking to.
Eanna Martin will probably be playingncenter back for UCC tomorrow against WIT, flanked by Hartnett and Jordan. Looked like a handy hurler whenever I’ve seen him play, suprised he was dropped off the Wexford panel.
The last link in the chain to a great era of hurling in the 90s from the likes of Wexico, An Clár and the Biffo’s. Great player, Great man, enjoy the pipe n’ slippers Fitzy, love from out Wesht