Speedy restart king Darragh Fitzgibbon pointing way for Cork

Darragh Fitzgibbon comes into the All-Ireland hurling final as the top point-scorer from play in the 2024 championship, as a midfielder.

When the game stops he really comes alive, with 15 of his 22 scores so far coming from puckouts. From both ends, through either direct wins, coming on to breaks like a train, or continuing that run and taking a pass generally ahead of the play. While 20 of those 22 were scored via a game restart - whether it be a puckout, sideline cut, free or throw-in.

Clare's midfielders will hope to fare better than Limerick's two-time All-Star William O'Donoghue who was taken off for the final quarter of his team's semi-final defeat to the Rebels.

A rare sight, he'd conceded seven points off Fitzgibbon over less than two games in the middle of the park. Shortly after the change however, the Charleville speedster surged on to a long puckout placed into the green grass in front of him to score his most recent point in this championship.

Regardless of who has been matched up against him so far this championship Fitzgibbon has consistently been a scoring outlet for his team. And therein lies his biggest threat, scores from puckouts.

The Cork number nine has scored 0-22 from play, averaging over 0-03 per match across their seven games en route to this afternoon's decider against Clare. Of those scores 68% have stemmed straight from puckouts, while 91% were from restarts including sidelines, frees and throw-ins.

Fitzgibbon races about like a greyhound let off the leash, his marker akin to the owner in the park trying to cut off the angles but never quite getting there.

From restarts in particular he has a standing start, allowing him to take advantage of his pace and fitness levels to go flat out to the landing