We’ll play without fear, says Daly

FOR THOSE who still don’t understand the difference between a manager and a coach, take a look at the challenge facing Anthony Daly on Sunday.

There are those who believe that if Daly has Dublin in peak physical condition for the Leinster final against Kilkenny, their touch sharp, their fitness spot on, his job is done. But that’s only the start, that’s only the coaching element; the major challenge facing Anthony Daly, as manager, is to get inside the heads of his players, to convince them that they can in fact overcome the overwhelming odds against them, and take down a Kilkenny team that has lost only once in Leinster since 1997.

“There’s a bit of that in it,” he agrees. “Kilkenny’s reputation is massive and it’s a reputation that’s deserved. I don’t think anyone has beaten them in Championship since 2005, that’s a long time, and I don’t think anyone has got close to them save for the last day against Galway (Leinster semi-final, four points). But no one keeps winning – even the great Kerry team didn’t keep winning forever so someone is going to catch them at some time. It could be this week or it could be two years’ time.”