Hurling bids farewell to Cork’s ‘little tiger’, Willie John Daly

Willie John Daly, the last surviving member of the Cork three-in-a-row team of 1952-’53-’54 was hailed yesterday as “a great hurling man of Carrigtwohill, a great hurling man of Cork, a great hurling man of Munster and a true legend in his lifetime”, in the graveside oration delivered by Cork County Board secretary Frank Murphy yesterday.

His funeral took place at St Mary’s Church, Carrigtwohill, with parish priest Fr Bill Bermingham the chief celebrant.

Players of different generations were in attendance, including Tipperary and Borrisoleigh star Jimmy Finn, one of two surviving members of the Premier County team which had recorded the provincial and All-Ireland treble in the preceding three years. “Willie John could play anywhere, really. He was a little tiger and he was great craic,” Finn commented.