Anthony Daly (born 22 October 1969) is an Irish former hurler who played as a left wing-back for the Clare senior hurling team.
Born in Clarecastle, County Clare, Daly first played competitive hurling during his schooling at St. Flannan's College.
As a member of the Munster inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, Daly won two Railway Cup medals.
After guiding Clarecastle, Kilmoyley and Kilmihil to club titles in their respective counties, he had an unsuccessful three-year spell as manager of the Clare senior team.
During a six-year tenure as Dublin manager Daly guided the team to their first provincial and national successes in over fifty years.
[9] Daly subsequently became a member of the starting fifteen and was at left wing-back when Clarecastle suffered a 3-14 to 1-11 defeat by Sixmilebridge in the 1989 final.
[11] After defeat to Wolfe Tones in the 1996 final, Daly won a fourth championship medal the following year after a 2-11 to 0-11 win over St. Joseph's Doora-Barefield.
In late 1989 Daly played with the Clare senior team for the first time in a National Hurling League game against Waterford.
After winning a second Division 2 title in the National League in 1994, Daly's side went on to lose another Munster decider, this time to Limerick.
New fitness regimes and new personalised diets and, above all, a new psychological approach, resulted in the fittest and most prepared Clare team ever taking to the field for a third consecutive Munster final in 1995.
Although trailing at half-time, substitute Éamonn Taaffe scored a crucial goal to propel Clare to a 1–13 to 2–8 victory.
[16] While Clare were installed as the favourites to retain their All-Ireland crown, a series of bizarre events led to one of the most controversial championship summers ever.
[25][26] After a relatively unsuccessful National League campaign Daly's side were trounced by Waterford in their first championship outing.
After successfully completing the qualifiers system Clare were eventually defeated by reigning champions Kilkenny following an exciting draw and a replay.
After topping group B of the qualifier series Clare subsequently defeated Wexford to set up an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Cork.
After topping group B of the qualifier series for the second consecutive year Clare subsequently defeated Wexford to set up an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kilkenny.
[33] Daly chose Vincent Teehan, Richard Stakelum and Ciarán Hetherton as his selectors with the Dublin team for 2009.
[34] Daly guided Dublin to the Walsh cup shield on Sunday 1 February following a 1–20 to 2–15 defeat of Leinster rivals Offaly in Banagher.
It was an impressive recovery after the Dubs were trounced 6–12 to 0–12 in the Walsh cup first round by all-Ireland champions Kilkenny at Parnell park on 18 January 2009.
Alan McCrabbe impressed for Daly's team scoring twenty six points in the early season competition as the Dubs warmed up for the national league.
The Clare native was on familiar territory on Sunday 8 February as he led Dublin into their opening national hurling league division one encounter against Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The young Dublin team secured three early first half goals from John Kelly and two from teenager Liam Rushe to lay down the foundations of victory.
Alan McCrabbe top scored again for the Dubs with 1–9 as Daly's team garnered two points from their first game of the league campaign.
One week later on 15 February 2009 the Clare native saw a vastly improved performance from his team as Dublin overwhelmed John McIntyre's Galway 2–21 to 0–15 at Parnell Park in round two of the national league division one campaign.
[38] Kilkenny retained the Leinster title with a hard fought victory against Dublin with Martin Comerfords two goals proving the difference between the sides.
Dublin started there Leinster Senior Hurling Championship with a Quarter-final win over Laois with set up a semi-final with Kilkenny the side they had been unlucky to lose to the year before in the final.
Dublin entered the All-Ireland Qualifiers at Phase 3 but suffered a shock 1–17 to 0–19 loss to Antrim ended there championship for the year.
[44][45] On the 21 November 2017, Daly was confirmed as the new senior hurling manager of Kilmacud Crokes, succeeding his former Clare team-mate Ollie Baker who had been in the role since 2013.
[46] On 4 December 2018, Daly was named as an advisor to newly appointed Antrim senior hurling team manager Neal Peden in 2019.