Anthony Daly: 'Lifting Mick Mackey. After 26 years I can see it, I have the smell of it'

SMELL HISTORY: Seánie McGrath, Mark Landers, Anthony Daly, T.J. Ryan and Liam Sheedy on stage for the Dalo’s Hurling Show live at the Douglas GAA Club.. Pic: Chani Anderson

The Dalo Live roadshow pulled into Douglas GAA Club Thursday night to preview the weekend’s provincial finals and the man at the wheel first had to face up to rash predictions made on the last live outing at the start of the hurling championship.

Anthony Daly put it to TJ Ryan, “I said Limerick wouldn’t qualify from the round robin, you were adamant Clare wouldn’t qualify. We were wrong.” 

Notwithstanding their absence on this big weekend, Cork’s survival in the wings loomed large over the conversation. And shapes TJ’s thoughts on Sunday.

“Given what Cork have done, Clare winning at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a serious line of form. Maybe they won by a short head, maybe they weren’t overly impressive, but they won. That they won the league is also a help. It alleviates all that ‘no cup’ pressure. Now they can win another one. The fact that they lost the last two finals will eat at them. Episode three will be tight again.

“Limerick are marginal favourites. Going for six Munsters in a row. It hasn’t been done before. The aristocrats mightn’t like to see that. History tells us something that’s never been done is tough to do. There’s five in row talk, but there is also an historic Munster Championship to be won.” 

Clare would take one for now and Dalo, who lifted their last one, senses a long wait ending.

“I think it will be an epic on Sunday. I really think they will serve it up.

“Lifting Mick Mackey. After 26 years I can see it, I have the smell of it.”