Daly insists Dubs can finish the job in replay after proving point

The odds will be against Dublin grabbing a devouring bite of the cherry in Portlaoise on Saturday but a defiant Anthony Daly is used to upsetting the bookmakers.

Although Kilkenny haven’t lost a Championship replay since 1985 and Dublin face their fourth game in as many weeks, the Clare man is encouraged by the likelihood of reaching a Leinster final against Galway.

“I think we’ve a great chance. We’re right there. I think we proved a good bit to ourselves. People were seriously doubting us and the boys are going away very disappointed so, there is no one clapping anyone on the back.”

Joking he was “a bit hoarse” afterwards following a third game in 15 days, Daly insisted Dublin will be ready for the replay.

He fancied his team were capable of making amends for their mediocre display against Kilkenny at the same stage and venue last year.

“I felt a big performance coming out of the boys. We’d be very disappointed with the way we hurled in the first half. We coughed up a lot of handy possession, I felt, and we were a bit silly with missed chances — a goal chance early on and a couple of things — but we just felt at half-time it wasn’t over; that we were extremely fit and if we could push the boat out, we could hang in there. That’s the gist of it.”

Level at half-time having played with a mighty wind into the Abbeyleix end of the field, Dublin appeared not to have done enough.

Daly never considered it that way, though. “There’d be fellas telling you it’s a six-point win, a seven-point win. But winds never win anything for you.

“Maybe you slacken in your mind as well, if you think you’ve the work done. We just felt at half-time we were still in there and everyone vowed to give it everything for 35 minutes and I think we did that.

“And unfortunately, the last few seconds, we coughed up an equaliser. But, look it, when we were level with a minute or two to go, we’d probably have taken a draw too. I’m delighted and proud of the boys.”

Daly praised his used substitutes especially first half replacement David O’Callaghan who “took it right on from the get-go when he came on”.

He bemoaned the lack of a break for his players but is assured of their ability to withstand what will be further games this coming weekend and the weekend after, be it a Leinster final or a qualifier.

“We haven’t had the injuries this year so we have a bit of a squad. It’s a pity we’re not through and have a couple of weeks break. But we’re still standing anyway.”