Training centre one of Daly’s demands

Anthony Daly has expressed dissatisfaction to the executive committee of the Dublin County Board over the absence of a training centre for the county’s hurling team.

Daly committed to a sixth term as Dublin manager on Monday afternoon, but sought assurances that a training centre, equipped with floodlights, would be provided for the 2014 campaign. Chairman Andy Kettle also revealed Daly will introduce additional personnel to his backroom team in the coming weeks.

“Anthony was 90% happy, 10% unhappy with one aspect,” admitted Kettle.

“We don’t have a training centre and the hurlers were being shipped from Billy to Jack, particularly during the early part of the spring looking for grass under lights, it is not the easiest thing in the world. We have given him a commitment that we would try and get him a base.

“The hurlers don’t have a set base. They would normally train out of O’Toole Park which doesn’t have lights from the spring onwards. They have used other venues also to ensure their is no monotony.

“There was overwhelming support at Monday’s meeting of the Dublin County Board for Anthony to remain in the job. He is very popular within the county and there is great recognition for what he has done. He has taken hurling in the county to a new level.

“There could be a minor change in his backroom team and if Anthony wants to bring in someone new he will have to present that person and they have to be ratified at a county board meeting.”

The Dublin chairman said Daly has unfinished business to attend to as Dublin boss, given the summer ended on such a low ebb.

“This season was a pretty good season, but by Anthony’s own standards I would say he would consider it a little bit of a failure when we came to the last four of the hurling championship. It was widely acknowledged that any one of the semi-finalists could possibly win it outright, but unfortunately we fell at the second last fence.

“He realises what it takes and he realises it doesn’t automatically mean that if you get to a semi-final one year that you will get back to the semi-final next year.

“We won the Walsh Cup, we got ourselves promoted out of Division 1B of the league then the next step was a Leinster championship which we achieved so we achieved three of the aims set down, the final one being Liam MacCarthy, but unfortunately we didn’t get there.”