Anthony Daly (hurler)

Biography

Anthony Daly was born in Clarecastle, County Clare in 1969. He was educated at the local national school and showed great skill at the game of hurling in his youth. He later attended St. Flannan's College in Ennis, a virtual nursery for young hurling talent. It was here that Daly first tasted hurling success when he won both Dr. Harty Cup and All-Ireland colleges' titles with the college in 1987. Daly later worked as a bank official, before leaving this job to open his own pub. He owned a sports shop in O'Connell Street, Ennis, before it closed in 2012. He also owns Murty Brownes pub in Tullycrine, Co Clare, which he ran from 1999 before leasing out in 2009. He married Eilish Murphy in 1997, they have three daughters.

On 28 February 2008 Daly was profiled on the TG4 television programme Laochra Gael. In October 2014, Dalo, his autobiography was released. It was nominated for the 2014 Irish Sports Book of the Year award.

Club

Daly played his club hurling with his local team in Clarecastle and enjoyed much success during a golden age for the club.

After playing for the club's minor and under-21 teams, Daly made his championship debut in 1987. That year Clarecastle qualified for a second consecutive county championship final. Feakle were the opponents on this occasion, however, Clarecastle made history by retaining the title for the first time. A 0–15 to 0–11 score line gave Daly his first county championship medal.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond Daly's side, while Clarecastle were beaten by Sixmilebridge in the county final of 1989.

In 1991 Daly lined out in a third county championship decider. Scariff were the opponents, however, the title went to Clarecastle, giving Daly a second championship medal.

Three years later in 1994 Clarecastle were back in yet another county final. Up-and-coming club side St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield provided the opposition, however, they were no match for Clarecastle. Daly added a third championship medal to his collection.

Defeat in the county final of 1996 gave Clarecasle the impetus to make amends in 1997. St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield lined out in opposition, however, Clarecastle had too much and won the game. It was Daly's fourth county championship winners' medal. Clarecastle subsequently represented the county in the provincial club series of games and even reached the final. Limerick champions Patrickswell provided the opposition, however, a 2–11 to 0–15 score line gave Clarecastle the title and gave O'Loughlin a Munster medal. A defeat of St. Gabriel's of London in the All-Ireland quarter-final saw Daly's side advance to a semi-final meeting with Birr. A thrilling 1–15 to 3–9 draw was followed by an even more exciting replay with extra-time. A narrow 0–12 to 0–11 score line gave Birr the win and saw Clarecastle exit the championship.

After losing the championship decider in 2002, Clarecastle bounced back to reach the decider again in 2003. Near neighbours Ballyea provided the opposition, however, a 3–14 to 1–11 victory gave Daly a fifth and final championship medal.

Inter-county

By the late 1980s Daly had come to the attention of the Clare inter-county selectors. He quickly joined the Clare minor team hurling team; however, he narrowly missed out on a Munster medal in 1989 as he was overage by one year. Daly subsequently moved onto the inter-county under-21 team but had little success in this grade either.

In late 1989 Daly played with the Clare senior team for the first time in a National Hurling League game against Waterford. It was a successful campaign as he subsequently won a Division 2 winners' medal in his debut season. Daly made his first Munster Championship appearance in 1990 when Clare took on Limerick, however, it wasn't a happy period for Clare, then regarded as the minnows of Munster hurling. Two years later in 1992 Daly was appointed captain of the Clare senior hurling team, a position he held until 2000.

In 1993 Clare were trounced in the Munster decider by Tipperaryin 1993, having already being relegated from the top flight of the National League.

After winning a second Division 2 title in the National League in 1994, Daly's side went on to lose another Munster decider, this time to Limerick. In spite of these setbacks, Daly won a first All-Star award that year.

In 1995 Ger Loughnane took over as manager of the Clare senior hurling team and made sweeping changes. New fitness regimes and new personalised diets and, above all, a new psychological approach, resulted in the fittest and most prepared Clare team ever taking to the field for a third consecutive Munster final in 1995. Limerick were the opponents for a second consecutive year and took an early lead. Clare never surrendered and, thanks to an inspirational penalty by goalkeeper Davy FitzGerald, fought back to win by 1–17 to 0–11. It was Daly's first Munster title and Clare's first since 1932. Daly's side later qualified for the All-Ireland final and were the underdogs against reigning champions Offaly. Although trailing at half-time, substitute Éamonn Taaffe scored a crucial goal to propel Clare to a 1–13 to 2–8 victory. It was their first championship title in eighty-one years. As well as collecting an All-Ireland medal as captain, Daly was later honoured with his second All-Star award.

After surrendering their provincial and All-Ireland crowns in 1996, Clare bounced back the following year. A 1–18 to 0–18 defeat of Tipperary gave Baker a second Munster medal in three years. Clare subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland decider. Due to the introduction of the "back-door" system Tipperary provided the opposition in the first all-Munster All-Ireland final. The game itself was one of the best of the decade. Clare were well on top for much of the game, however, Liam Cahill and Eugene O'Neill scored twice for Tipp in the last ten minutes. John Leahy missed a goal chance in the last minute while another Tipp point was controversially ruled wide. At the full-time whistle Clare won by a single point – 0–20 to 2–13. It was a second All-Ireland medal for Daly as captain.

Daly won his third and final Munster medal in 1998 following a tense draw and a replay with Waterford. While Clare were installed as the favourites to retain their All-Ireland crown, a series of bizarre events led to one of the most controversial championship summers ever. Clare drew with Offaly in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, in the replay Clare were winning by two points when the referee, Jimmy Cooney, blew the whistle with two minutes of normal time left to be played. The Offaly fans were outraged and staged a sit-down protest on the Croke Park pitch. The result wasn't allowed to stand and Clare were forced to meet Offaly for a third time that year. They lost the second replay. Daly later won a third All-Star award.

A defeat by Cork in the Munster decider in 1999 brought an end to the golden age of Clare hurling.

In early 2001 there was much speculation that Daly was going to retire from inter-county hurling. After initially returning to the training panel he opted out again prior to the championship. After contemplating a return to the inter-county scene again in 2002, Daly finally confirmed his retirement in 2002.

Inter-provincial

Daly also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling championship where he played alongside his championship rivals from other Munster hurling counties. He first played for his province in 1993 as Munster were surprisingly defeated by Ulster in the semi-final. Defeat was Munster's lot again in 1994; however, Daly won his first Railway Cup title following a defeat of Ulster in 1995.

Daly was provincial captain in 1996 as he collected a second Railway Cup title after Munster's victory over Leinster.

Clarecastle

In 2002 Daly had just retired from club hurling when he took over as trainer of the Clarecastle senior hurling team. In his debut year he guided the club to the county championship final, however, Sixmilebridge were the winners on that occasion.

Clare

Daly was appointed manager of the Clare senior hurling team on 22 October 2003. After a relatively unsuccessful National League campaign Daly's side were trounced by Waterford in their first championship outing. After successfully completing the qualifiers system Clare were eventually defeated by reigning champions Kilkenny following an exciting draw and a replay.

In 2005 Daly's side exited the provincial championship at an early stage once again. After topping group B of the qualifier series Clare subsequently defeated Wexford to set up an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Cork. In that game Daly's side had the reigning All-Ireland champions on the ropes. Clare led by six points at one stage, however, Cork fought back to defeat Clare by just one point. The defeat was a massive blow for Clare, however, Daly was offered another year as manager thanks to his performance.

In 2006 Clare were comprehensively defeated by Cork in their opening game in the championship. After topping group B of the qualifier series for the second consecutive year Clare subsequently defeated Wexford to set up an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kilkenny. Clare, however, were defeated once again. Following this defeat Daly resigned as manager.

Kilmihil

Between 2001 and 2005 Daly was involved in bringing hurling to West Clare. He managed underage Kilmihil teams from u-14 to minor over a period of 5 years. He enjoyed relative success capturing the 2003 u-16C Clare hurling championship and the 2004 Minor C Clare hurling championship.

Kilmoyley

Daly returned to club management in 2007 when he took over from John Meyler as manager of the Kilmoyley senior hurling team in Kerry. His first season in charge saw the club reach the championship decider for the first time in three years, however, Lixnaw were the winners by six points.

Kilmoyley returned to the championship decider again in 2008, this time with Causeway as the opposition. A comfortable 1–18 to 0–8 victory gave Daly his first championship title in Kerry.

Daly guided Kilmoyley to a third successive final appearance in 2009. St. Brendan's, Ardfert were the opponents, however, they prved no match for Kilmoyley who recorded a 1–19 to 2–8 victory.

Three-in-a-row proved beyond Daly's Kilmoyley team, as the side were defeated by Lixnaw in the championship semi-final in 2010. Daly stepped down as manager following the defeat.

Dublin

Daly was ratified as manager of the Dublin senior hurling team on 24 November 2008. Daly chose Vincent Teehan, Richard Stakelum and Ciarán Hetherton as his selectors with the Dublin team for 2009.

Daly guided Dublin to the Walsh cup shield on Sunday 1 February following a 1–20 to 2–15 defeat of Leinster rivals Offaly in Banagher. Previously Dublin overcame Laois comfortably on a 0–18 to 1–8 scoreline to qualify for the final. It was an impressive recovery after the Dubs were trounced 6–12 to 0–12 in the Walsh cup first round by all-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Parnell park on 18 January 2009. Alan McCrabbe impressed for Daly's team scoring twenty six points in the early season competition as the Dubs warmed up for the national league.

The Clare native was on familiar territory on Sunday 8 February as he led Dublin into their opening national hurling league division one encounter against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The game was played under the backdrop of the impasse in Cork GAA where the 2008 panel have refused to play under current manager Gerald McCarthy.

The Dubs overcame a determined Cork, who included fifteen debutants, by 4–14 to 1–14. The young Dublin team secured three early first half goals from John Kelly and two from teenager Liam Rushe to lay down the foundations of victory. Alan McCrabbe top scored again for the Dubs with 1–9 as Daly's team garnered two points from their first game of the league campaign.

One week later on 15 February 2009 the Clare native saw a vastly improved performance from his team as Dublin overwhelmed John McIntyre's Galway 2–21 to 0–15 at Parnell Park in round two of the national league division one campaign. Dublin topped Division one following their bright start to the league with two wins from two matches. Dublin finished the league campaign in third position, one place before qualification for the NHL finals. The final game was a loss to Kilkenny by 2 points at Nowlan Park.

Daly's 2009 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship began with a Leinster Senior Hurling Championship clash against Antrim. It proved to be a relatively comfortable win for Dublin with McCrabbe dominating with 1-09 in a game that finished 2–16 to 0–12 at Croke Park. This victory set up a semi-final clash against the 2008 leinster finalists Wexford. The semi-final proved to be a hard fought game at Croke Park. Dublin defeated Wexford by 0–18 to 1–13 with Alan McCrabbe once again dominating the scores with 0–10 which secured Dublins place in the Leinster final for the first time since 1991 which was a loss to Kilkenny. Kilkenny retained the Leinster title with a hard fought victory against Dublin with Martin Comerfords two goals proving the difference between the sides.

Dublin were drawn in their first ever All-Ireland hurling quarter final against Limerick which could have taken Dublin to their first All-Ireland semi-final since 1948. The game finished with the Treatymen winning 2–18 to 1–17 at Semple Stadium thus ending Dublin and Daly's 2009 campaign.

After a good League capain in 2009 2010 didn't go as well Dublin just staying up ahead of Limerick. Dublin started there Leinster Senior Hurling Championship with a Quarter-final win over Laois with set up a semi-final with Kelkenny the side they had been unlucky to lose to the year before in the final. The game turned out to be a very onesideed affer with Kilkenny running out easy winners on a scoreline of 4–19 to 0–12.

Dublin entered the All-Ireland Qualifiers at Phase 3 but suffered a shock 1–17 to 0–19 loss to Antrim ended there championship for the year.

2011 started well for Daly and Dublin they won the Walsh Cup beating Kilkenny in the final. He later led Dublin to a first National Hurling League Div 1 final in sixty-five years. In the final they over came Kilkenny by 0–22 to 1–07 to win a first league title since 1939.

In July 2013, Daly managed Dublin to win the 2013 Leinster hurling final against Galway by 2–25 to 2–13, their first title in 52 years.

In September 2014, Daly stepped down as Dublin manager after six years in charge.

Team

Individual

Manager

Quotes