After losing back-to-back Munster finals to Tipperray in 1964 and 1965 it looked as if FitzGerald would end his career without even a Munster medal, however, Cork hurling returned to centre stage in 1966. That year FitzGerald's side avoided Tipperary in the provincial championship and qualified for a Munster showdown with Waterford. An entertaining hour of hurling followed, however, victory went to Cork by 4-9 to 2-9 for the first time in ten years. It was FitzGerald's first senior Munster winners' medal. This victory allowed Cork to advance directly to the All-Ireland final where arch-rivals Kilkenny provided the opposition. It was the first meeting of these two great sides since 1947 and ‘the Cats’ were installed as the firm favourites. In spite of this a hat-trick of goals by Colm Sheehan gave Cork a merited 3-9 to 1-10 victory over an Eddie Keher-inspired Kilkenny. It was FitzGerald's first All-Ireland winners' medal.