Cork 'extra man' up front 'would play into Clare's hands,' says Daly

Anthony Daly, who captained Clare to two All-Ireland SHC crowns in the 1990s, cannot wait to see how the tactical tug-of-war plays out in Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final between Clare and Cork.

Both camps are remaining tight-lipped about team selections and tactical approaches as the countdown continues to the Munster derby at Croke Park, with Daly's native county chasing their first Liam MacCarthy Cup since 1997.

The Banner men have gained notable success in recent outings with their ploy of using captain Pat Donnellan as a sweeper between the full-back and half-back lines.

There is much speculation about what Cork will do to curtail Donnellan's influence, while Brian Murphy's return to training following a serious shoulder injury has many wondering if Jimmy Barry-Murphy will throw the Bride Rovers clubman straight back in for a man-marking job on Clare starlet Tony Kelly.

Daly, whose Dublin side lost to Cork at the semi-final stage last month, reckons that the Rebels will keep their 'extra man' in defence in order to curb Clare's pace up front.

"Are Cork going to shove a guy up the field (as the extra man)? Some people think they should, I think it would be madness. I think it would be playing into Clare's hands," the Clarecastle man told Newstalk's 'Off The Ball' programme.

"It would leave five forwards against five backs down the other end and those Clare lads would love that, they'd love that space."

Offering his opinion of Donnellan's role, he added: "To be fair to Davy (Fitzgerald), I think there was a fair difference in the way the sweeper system evolved from the Galway game to the Limerick game. In that for the Galway game Pat Donnellan basically stood in front of Joe Canning and Cian Dillon marked Joe Canning from behind, and he just covered that area of ground.

"If you watch the Limerick game, it was very interesting to watch the way Donnellan got forward. You remember him popping up for a quick free off Colin Ryan early on and banging it over the bar only 45 yards out from the Limerick goal.

"There was a way different dynamic to the sweeper's role that day, it was nearly more of a third midfielder whereas in the Galway game it was an out-and-out extra defender. I don't know what Davy will do (for the final), he usually comes up with something new anyway!"

Daly is unsurprisingly backing his old team-mate to deliver a long-awaited All-Ireland senior title for the county, adding to Clare's recent successes at Under-21 level (2009 and 2012).

"I think Clare will win, I would say that but I just have this feeling that this bunch of boys, they take this in their stride. They love going to Croke Park, as underage players they've always performed fairly well there.

"They've the two Under-21 All-Ireland winning teams and the couple of older lads to balance that. These Clare lads - (Tony) Kelly, Colm Galvin, Podge Collins, Conor McGrath, David McInerney - they only know winning really.

"There's a stat there that Colm Galvin has never lost an underage game with Clare in Munster, he's had two years at Under-16, two years as a minor and this is his second year as an Under-21 and he's underage again next year. By God, there isn't too many Clare players in the history of the game that can say that!"

Meanwhile, Daly is taking some time out to mull over his own future as Dublin senior hurling manager and a decision on that is expected to be made 'in the next week or so'.

In July the three-time All-Star famously guided Dublin to their first Leinster SHC title since 1961 and judging by his comments on Newstalk, he seems enthusiastic about the prospect of a sixth season in charge of the Dubs.

"Sure you'd be awful tempted with the year we had, but again are you going to make it better or worse? Better only goes one way, we know the step that needs to be taken to make it better now," admitted Daly.

"There's a lot to look forward to. Back in Division 1 which was our initial target this year. Those Spring Series games are great, even the opposition teams look forward to coming up to Croke Park on Saturday nights for a double header.

"The players and County Board need to know quick enough (about my decision). I'll look at that decision to be made in the short term. In the next week of so, we'll be making a call on that."