JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Daly looks a future star

Sean O’Brien could soon have some assistance flying the Carlow flag on the international rugby circuit with Ireland U20 centre Tom Daly emerging as a player with serious potential.

The 6’4” former Carlow minor footballer was outstanding as Mike Ruddock’s men opened their Junior World Championship campaign in France on Wednesday with a superb 19-15 win. Daly led the way with 14 points from the boot, including a late pressure kick from 38 metres after the Wallabies scored a breakaway try to come within a point of a dominant Irish side.

“We are delighted with the win against one of the best teams in the world and hopefully now we can build on it. It is great to win the first match. It was absolutely roasting, the ball was wet with sweat so it was good to get into the pace of the competition and start with a victory,” said Daly, who has been called into the Leinster academy for next season after a string of impressive displays for Lansdowne and Irish age grade sides.

But it could have been so different for the physio student at the College of Surgeons. He doesn’t come from a rugby background and growing up, he seemed destined to make his mark on the GAA fields with big displays for his club Ballon, arch rivals of O’Brien’s Fighting Cocks, and Knockbeg College.

He played for two years with the Carlow minors until his ability as a rugby player was being noted in his performances for Co Carlow.

“We are not really a rugby family. I came up through the club system. I didn’t go to a rugby school or anything. I played Ireland U18 clubs, and then I went on Irish U19s last year.

“I played a lot of Gaelic and that’s probably where the kicking came from.”

Ireland face Fiji next up on Sunday.