VENTURE CAPITAL?

Daly tight-lipped on Dubs return with all his focus on club glory

ANTHONY DALY was coy last night on the possibility of a return to the Dublin senior hurling manager’s job.

Following Pat Gilroy’s surprise resignation last month, Daly has been linked with reprising the role he held for six seasons up to 2014, while Cuala’s double All-ireland winning Mattie Kenny (right) is also a strong contender.

Cuala’s hopes of landing a third successive Tommy Moore Cup were dashed by Daly’s Kilmacud Crokes side in last Sunday’s county semi-final and the Clare man insisted he’s focused fully on the upcoming final against Ballyboden St Enda’s.

He said: “I have no control over what papers are going to say. I was obviously with Dublin for six years.

“When Pat Gilroy vacates the post – no more than when Ger Cunningham vacated it – I see my name linked. I have a county final to concentrate on. There’s no sideshows for me.”

Speaking at last night’s Championship draw, it was put to

Daly that the job would hold huge appeal for him.

“Yeah but sitting in the couch here has a huge appeal. And writing for the Examiner has a huge appeal. You can criticise everybody!

“I’ve six years done in Dublin and three in Clare.

“You’d be wondering would you have that hunger ever again. I haven’t thought about it.”

Daly’s first stint with Dublin saw the county win historic League and Leinster titles though he dismissed the old maxim that you should never go back. “Nah. Not at all. Nothing is ever really in stone in any of these things. That’s only a load of rot. It’s whatever is right is right for you.. and the squad.”

In terms of what he would be inheriting if he was to return, Daly credited Gilroy with steadying the ship after a turbulent conclusion to Ger Cunningham’s three seasons at the helm.

He added: “Look, he was certainly a stabilising effect on the whole thing.

“I’m great friends with Ger and I’d have thought he was a great appointment.

“The first year was relatively solid. But there was a bit too much turmoil. Too many stories and that kind of thing.

“Pat came in and wiped the slate clean. So whoever takes over now has a fair platform to build on.”