Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald has hit out at RTÉ pundits Michael Duignan and Henry Shefflin in defence of his team's tactics in today's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final defeat to Waterford.

Neither Duignan nor Henry were a part of RTE's Sunday Game panel for this afternoon's clash at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, where the Deise men emerged victorious on a 1-23 to 1-19 score-line, but the two All-Ireland winners were critical of the Model men's display at the newly reopened Cork venue with the following tweets:

Sweepers should be outlawed! Not the game I love. Coach players to tackle & to use their heads instead of using extra backs to compensate!

- Michael Duignan (@DuignanMichael) July 23, 2017

Who is marking who in this game ? One would hate to be playing in the full forward line - or be a forward full stop #WatvWex

- Henry Shefflin (@ShefflinHenry) July 23, 2017

Needless to say, Fitzgerald didn't take to kindly to the criticism when speaking at this evening post-match press conference.

"I think Michael Duignan and Henry have had a go. Let me say this straight out, Michael Duignan and Henry have never managed a team at a high level. The people need to wake up, so they do," the Clare man stated.

"If they want the same one or two teams to play hurling and be successful that's fine. Myself and Derek are trying to bring teams to the fore that haven't been to the fore in a long time and I'm very strong about this.

"It's great for the likes of Michael Duignan, he should have had an opinion on something recently and he didn't have it and he should have stood up. It's time now Michael Duignan stopped this messing.

"The job Derek McGrath has done and the stick he has taken is totally unwarranted. What he has done for Waterford and bringing them back to the top is incredible and I am backing him 100%.

"You tell me that's a bad game of hurling, some of the scores? Short and long ball, every sort of ball or do we just play the long ball and hit it and that's it. I don't agree with that and I think they are totally out of order.

"I think that RTÉ should go and have a look at themselves and get analysts who have been on the sideline and who know what the story is about and that's how I feel strongly about it. Easy, easy knock people.

"I'd like to see their track records when it comes to it, when it comes to the managing because it's a lot different than playing I can promise you that."

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