Daly delighted for 'diehard' supporters
June 23, 2009

Dublin manager Anthony Daly
Anthony Daly says he is happy for genuine Dublin hurling supporters who have followed the team through thick and thin, and are now looking forward to their first Leinster final in 18 years.
"I'd like people to come to the Leinster final but the diehards who came to Nowlan Park and who followed us through the league are the people I'd be concerned about. The people who only turn up for finals wouldn't bother me, no more than they did when I played with Clare," the Dublin manager said after Sunday's breakthrough semi-final win over Wexford.
"I'd have massive time for the 7,000 faithful from Clare who turned up for the 1995 Munster final even though we were beat in the two previous finals. They weren't afraid to be there. I wouldn't have been as concerned with the 40,000 who were looking for All-Ireland final tickets that September. That would always have been my way.
"I'd take criticism from the genuine diehards but not a fella who watches the hurling on TV in the golf club after a round and then starts looking for a ticket."
The former double All-Ireland winning captain doesn't believe there is much chance of the Dublin players becoming famous overnight.
"I'm a small bit removed, living in Ennis, but I'd say in Dublin there'd be a fair bit of anonymity for the lads, but that applies to other players, too. Certainly, even working with RTÉ, you'd be hard pushed to recognise hurlers without their helmets.
"The Kilkenny lads would be well known, but how about other teams? I wouldn't have a clue who many of them are - any inter-county hurler who doesn't wear a helmet and mask is instantly recognisable."
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