Daly, Fergus
July 12, 1991
Fergus Daly
Fergus Daly
A Blessington and Wicklow giant
By Peter Keogh
Many of the title chasing Counties could be forgiven, if at this point in time they were looking with envious eyes at Wicklow's rangy midfielder Fergus Daly. The six foot four inch Blessington Clubman is fast establishing himself as one of the outstanding fetchers of the high ball in the game today and would undoubtedly be handed the No. 9 shirt in most counties in Ireland.
With very limited opportunity to display his talents before a mass audience - matches in Div. 111 of the League, against teams such as Kilkenny, Carlow or Waterford in mid-winter do not bring the crowds, or the media flocking in large numbers - the 21-year old Daly has still managed to attract the attention of selectors at national and provincial level.
In 1989, when just out of minor ranks, he was spotted by the Leinster Selectors and played in the Railway Cup series losing out in the first match but picking up a Shield medal when the home province beat Connacht in that final. He was again selected for Leinster this year and proved a big success in his familiar midfield role.
He was on Eugene McGee's panel for the Aussie Rules tour and remained in contention right up to the final selection when age more- than anything else told against him. He also received an All Star nomination in 1989.
The gentle giant from the Lakeside, who tips the scale at 15 and half stone - a weight he freely admits is a few pounds heavier than trainer Niall Rennick would like, has a lot to contribute to the game. To develop his talents, however, he needs more exposure in high class football - a remark that could just as well apply to most of this young Wicklow team. That is the reason why promotion to a higher grade in the League was the top priority when Niall Rennick took over the management of the team last autumn. The Meath man achieved that first important objective when Wicklow won Div. 3 South outright and qualified for a quarter final meeting with Dublin. It is worth recalling that the Wicklow back room team opted to play that quarter final at Croke Park, rather than at neutral Newbridge, so as to give Daly and other young players on the team an opportunity of sampling the big time atmosphere at headquarters. Arguably that quarter final in 'Croker' was Dalys finest hour, indicating that he may have the temperament for the big time.
It was the midfield partnership of Daly and the indestructible Pat O'Byrne that deprived the 'Dubs' of a reasonable foothold in the vital area that April day and cut the 'fuel' supply to the metropolitans scoring machine. In addition that day, Daly demonstrated his ability as a long range free taker by sending over three points all of which were deemed to be outside the range of ace marksman Robert McHugh.
Rennick and his fellow conspirators will very likely build most of their plans around the Daly/O'Byrne partnership for the Championship. They regard the Blessington man very highly, not just as a fielder but also as a very good distributor of the ball. Their trouble up to now has been that they have not been able to put together a forward line capable of making the best use of midfield dominance.
In the League quarter final they used current All Star Kevin O'Brien at centre half forward where he was too far from the target area to be really effective. This time O'Brien is likely to operate much nearer goal and may be better positioned to avail of any chances laid on by the midfield pair.
One must have sympathy for Rennick, Daly and the other Wicklow players facing in to their first Championship game in mid July against a team that will have played enough Championship football to win an All Ireland in normal circumstances. It was bad enough for the team building Wicklow men to be drawn against the Dublin/Meath winners in the first place. Then after priming themselves for a mid June showdown to have their debut twice postponed and to re-schedule their preparations ail over again. To make matters worse most of the neighbouring counties have gone out of contention and are concentrating on the 'Home' championships thus making meaningful practice matches very hard to get.
Fergus Daly is not one to get unduly bothered about the politics or policies which govern the game. His job is to 'deliver' on the day - whatever day - no matter who the opposition is.
He is looking forward very much to the clash with either Meath or Dublin and while he will not say so in so many words one gets the feeling that he would dearly love to rub shoulders with Liam Hayes, who he greatly admires as a player. Whatever the progress in the Championship, Daly is looking forward to the new style league when Wicklow will come up against teams such as Donegal, Roscommon and Leitrim in the spring.
It will mean a bit of extra travelling but the added experience should stand to players like Daly, the Kenny brothers, Thomas Keogh and John Walsh.
A most unassuming young man, Fergus Daly has no idea what the future holds. He would dearly love to help his club, Blessington, regain the Wicklow Senior Championship and of course his greatest wish is to be part of a Wicklow team that could make the break through in Leinster.
Taken from Hogan Stand
12th July 1991
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