David Fitzgerald (field hockey)


David Fitzgerald is an Ireland men's field hockey international. He was the reserve goalkeeper in the Ireland squad that won the bronze medal at the 2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship. He was also in the squads that represented Ireland at the 2016 Summer Olympics and at the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup. Between 2007–08 and 2016–17, Fitzgerald played in six Irish Senior Cup finals for Monkstown. He was also a member of the Monkstown team that won three successive Men's Irish Hockey League titles between 2012–13 and 2014–15. He was Goalkeeper of the Tournament when Monkstown won the 2014 EuroHockey Club Trophy.

Early years and education

Between 1999 and 2005 Fitzgerald attended St. Andrew's College.
Between 2007 and 2012 he attended University College Dublin where he gained a Bachelor's degree in Business and Law. In 2015–16 he gained a Certificate in Sport Psychology from Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology.

Domestic teams

St. Andrew's College

In 2005 Fitzgerald, together with Alan Sothern, was a member of the St. Andrew's College team that lost 1–0 to Michael Darling and Wesley College in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final.

Monkstown

Fitzgerald began playing field hockey with Monkstown at the age of nine. Between 2007–08 and 2016–17 he played in six Irish Senior Cup finals for Monkstown. In 2007–08, 2009–10 and 2010–11 he finished on the losing side.
In 2012–13 he helped Monkstown end their ninety nine year wait for an Irish Senior Cup title. Monkstown and Fitzgerald won the cup again in 2015–16 and were runners up in 2016–17. Together with Graham Shaw, Peter Caruth and Kyle Good, Fitzgerald also helped Monkstown win three successive Men's Irish Hockey League titles between 2012–13 and 2014–15. Fitzgerald has also represented Monkstown in European competitions. He was Goalkeeper of the Tournament when Monkstown won the 2014 EuroHockey Club Trophy and also played for Monkstown in the 2014–15
and the 2015–16 Euro Hockey Leagues.

Ireland international

Fitzgerald made his senior debut for Ireland in July 2010 against France. During the 2010s he was named as the reserve goalkeeper to David Harte in various Ireland tournament squads. Fitzgerald was a member of the Ireland team that won a 2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 1 tournament. He was also a member of the Ireland squad that qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after finishing fifth in the 2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals. In November 2018 he made his 50th senior Ireland appearance against the Netherlands.
TournamentsPlace
2011 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge II1st
2011 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship5th
2012 Men's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier2nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 11st
2012 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I3rd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 22nd
2012–13 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals7th
2013 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship6th
2014 Men's Hockey Champions Challenge I4th
2014 Men's Hockey Investec Cup2nd
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Round 21st
2014–15 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals5th
2015 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship
2016 Summer Olympics10th
2018 Men's Hockey World Cup14th

Occupation

Since September 2013 he has worked as a specialist goalkeeping coach with Dublin University Ladies' Hockey Club. Since September 2014 he has worked as a self-employed personal trainer.

Honours

;Ireland
;Monkstown
;St. Andrew's College