Anthony Daly has adapted very well to his role as trainer of the Clarecastle hurling team and his skills will be put to the test in a big way on Sunday when they contest the Clare SHC final against Sixmilebridge. Former Clare manager Ger Loughnane has said in the past that he believes Daly possesses all the qualities required to be a top hurling coach or manager and so far he's done plenty to suggest that he's right. Daly retired from playing after last year's Club Championship. He admitted he would prefer to be playing, but has become accustomed to his new role. "I suppose it has been strange not playing," said the man who captained Clare to All-Irelnad SHC titles in 1995 and '97. "It was a shock to the system for the first few matches this year, but as time has gone on I've got used to it. "At the end of the day, it's nothing like playing, but it's the next best thing. It's a good bit better than sitting in the stand. I would have suffered awful cold turkey if I had gone straight to the stand. At least you're still involved with the lads, you still get to go training and you have the craic and the banter." Daly and former Clare colleagues Fergie Tuohy, Ger 'Sparrow' O'Loughlin and Ken Morrissey all retired before the start of this season's championship, so Clarecastle's appearance in the final is certainly a noteworthy achievement. "Of the Clarecastle team that reached the All-Ireland semi-final just four years ago, only three will start on Sunday," Daly revealed. "It's an amazing turnover in such a short period of time, but we've had a great recent record at underage level and that's softened the blow of all the retirements. "It's a very young team. If you took out the Sheedys, Ger Canny and Fergie O'Loughlin, they're all under 23, including two 17-year-olds who feature regularly." Tweet

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