Anthony Daly plays down link to Dublin job

Anthony Daly has played down links to the vacant managerial job at the helm of the Dublin senior hurlers.

The Clare native was in charge of the Sky Blues for six seasons, during which he won League and Leinster titles. He is currently back in the capital, in charge of Kilmacud Crokes having led them to a famous victory over reigning All-Ireland champions Cuala last weekend.

Since the shock resignation of Pat Gilroy after just one season, the Dubs have been looking for a new man to lead their hurlers in 2019 and high-profile names have been linked with the position. Anthony Cunningham and Mattie Kenny are believed to be in the running, but Daly has distanced himself from the race.

"I have no control over what papers are going to say," said the former All-Ireland winning captain with Clare. "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 are no sideshows for me."

Daly was impressed with the work that Pat Gilroy did during his brief spell in charge.

"Look, he was certainly a stabilising effect on the whole thing," he said. "Pat came in and wiped the slate clean with everybody. He gave everybody a go and obviously trained them like absolute savage because the League wasn't hectic.

"They were really the most consistent team in the Championship. They never had a down day. If you go through Munster, everyone had a down day. Dublin didn't and were desperately unlucky.

"That day against Kilkenny looked like nothing but a Dublin win. Was it a foul on Paddy Smyth? Seán [Moran] had gone on the overlap expecting the hand-pass and just that little hole was left and then Blanchfield nails it.

"After that it was going to be difficult. But still, they played great stuff in Salthill. They played great stuff against Wexford. So whoever takes over now has a fair platform to build on."

Daly didn't rule out a return to intercounty management at some point in the future.

"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."