Daly recalls dark days as Cork clash looms

It wasn’t so much an interview with Anthony Daly as an audience, the current Dublin senior hurling manager, former Clare All-Ireland-winning captain, holding court as he prepares his side for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Cork (Croke Park, 3.30pm) in the only way he knows how, straight and honest.

First of all there were the circumstances of how he ended up as the Dublin manager four years ago, a team from the other side of the country. “I’d had a couple of years down in Kilmoyley (Kerry), a lovely place to be, grand for the soul I tell you being down there, loving their hurling.

“I had really enjoyed the three years with Clare (2004/5/6) even though there was bitter disappointment losing the two All-Ireland semi-finals (’05 and ’06).