Columns - Irish Examiner

Anthony Daly

Clare and Waterford playing game of risk and reward over injuries

Before the 1995 National League final against Kilkenny, my back was in bits. I wanted to play. I convinced management I was fit to play. I thought we would win. I wanted to lift the cup. 

Sun, 05 Jun, 2016

Munster championship has to be about more than yesterday’s turn-off

I’ve often wondered about GAA teams’ approach to big games when compared to the marquee rugby sides. The GAA boys tear out of tunnels like they’ve just broken out of prison after being locked up for 20 years. The rugby boys walk out, often holding the hands of mascots, appearing like they’re heading for a tea-party before turning into savages.

Mon, 23 May, 2016

Dónal Óg Cusack was shouting: ‘We are Cork, boy, we are Cork’

Cork teams always had the ability to turn the bookies into fools. They had an arrogance and strut about them. But that swagger is gone for a bit, writes Anthony Daly.

Sat, 21 May, 2016

Hurling is the game that just keeps on giving

That rolling bet between myself and John Mullane is still rolling. I didn’t take the €20 off him yesterday because we are going doubles or quits for the championship match on June 5th.

Mon, 09 May, 2016

Heckling heats up Championship build-up for Clare and Waterford

The league final had heckling and hard hits, but it and tomorrow’s replay are still something of a phoney war before the real action gets underway on June 5...

Sat, 07 May, 2016

Air of ’93 about Clare and Waterford's war of attrition

John Mullane and I have had this ‘friendly’ €20 bet over the last few months on the outcome of the Clare-Waterford championship match in June, but we decided live on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday to bring it forward by five weeks. Now it has turned into a rolling bet, the money still sweating in the pot until next Sunday. We hope.

Mon, 02 May, 2016

Do they sell Panadol tablets under the old stand in Thurles?

The first year I was manager of Clare, our opening championship match took place the week after the league final between Waterford and Galway. 

Sat, 30 Apr, 2016

Don’t fret, Brian Cody will still have slept well last night

I was in Páirc Ui Rinn in March the night Kilkenny came from six points down with five minutes remaining to nail Cork on the line by one point. Kilkenny had some momentum and far more time to reel Clare in from six points down but, while you never say never with that crowd, you never felt a Kilkenny comeback was on in this League semi final.

Mon, 18 Apr, 2016

Patience paramount as Limerick build for the future

Working with the Limerick underage hurling academy, and being on the ground so often around Limerick, it’s very easy to pick up on the oscillating mood and trends in a county desperate for success.

Sat, 16 Apr, 2016

Dónal Óg Cusack has brought ‘Cork cockiness’ to Clare

I came in early yesterday morning to watch the Clare U21s play Dublin in a challenge game in Clare-abbey, our old pitch in Clarecastle. 

Mon, 04 Apr, 2016