GAELIC GAMES: With virtually all fingers in Clare pointing at Anthony Daly as the most desirable choice for the vacant senior county manager's position, one of his former team-mates says the former captain won't be pressured into taking the job.

James O'Connor believes that whereas Daly's views on the matter have changed, he won't allow public expectation to dictate his decision. "It's only a couple of weeks since Dalo was saying in the local paper that he had three kids as well as a pub and a shop to run and that he basically didn't have the time.

"He seems to have stepped back from that position once the vibe went out that the time is now rather than later. There are complications with Clarecastle winning the county (title) and playing Patrickswell at home in two weeks and if they win, the Waterford champions.

"But Dalo's no fool and he's going to do what he does for the right reasons. He's not going to take on a commitment like that because of pressure from others."

Although it is believed senior players approached Daly to urge him to take up the reins while most of his former colleagues were still available to give it one last rattle, O'Connor says he has not spoken to the former county captain about the situation.

"I spoke to him last week but all we discussed was the county final. It's easy to see why people would like him to take the job. He's the closest in Clare to (Ger) Loughnane. He has that drive and passion."

One of the reservations about the potential appointment is the very fact so many of his former team-mates are still playing but O'Connor - who acknowledges he himself still hasn't made up his mind about playing next year - has no doubts on that score: "Anthony Daly is a guy that won't shy away from making hard decisions. If a ruthless decision has to be taken, he'll just take it. Definitely."

Assuming Daly decides to take the plunge there is unlikely to be an announcement this week. Tomorrow night's Clare County Board meeting will take nominations for the vacant position from the clubs. There are expected to be around half a dozen candidates and unless they all

agree to step aside the final decision will have to go to committee.

Among the names mentioned are Fr Harry Bohan, who managed the Clare team that won back-to-back National League titles in the 1970s and who is still well respected in the county, and Kevin Kennedy who led the 1997 county minors to the All-Ireland.

But according to a county board source last night: "If Anthony Daly says 'yes' he will be appointed."

Meanwhile in neighbouring Limerick tonight's county board meeting is expected to ratify Pad Joe Whelahan as the new manager of the county's senior hurling team. The Birr manager, who will be re-entering the top level of intercounty hurling for the first time since he left the Offaly manager's position in 1989, will also submit his choice of selectors as well as the expected return of Dave Mahedy as physical trainer.

Also tonight All-Ireland champions Kilkenny will ratify the reappointment of Brian Cody as manager of the senior hurlers. The formalities will follow Cody's decision at the weekend to go forward for a further year. He and the entire outgoing management team of Noel Skehan and Johnny Walsh have again made themselves available.

"The main motivation is the fact that I have enjoyed doing it. It's a job you cannot do unless you're enjoying it," he said. "When my thoughts on that line change then I will certainly not go and do it again. Obviously it has worked out nicely for us as well. I still have the enthusiasm to do it and that's it."

The decision was not unexpected even though Cody had asked for a few weeks to consider his situation. With Kilkenny in a position to go for three-in-a-row All-Ireland titles, the challenge of persevering must have been attractive.

"Brian made up his mind last Friday," according to county secretary Pat Dunphy. "The only thing that might have made him reconsider was tiredness or fatigue. We certainly are pleased - Brian has a great record and next year we'll be going for the three-in-a-row and also going to the top of the leader board for the first time."

Kilkenny are now joint top of the All-Ireland roll of honour with Cork on 28 titles each.

Finally Limerick footballer Stephen Kelly's call-up to the International Rules panel was confirmed yesterday with the news Brian Dooher has been forced to withdraw. The indefatigable Tyrone forward has been suffering from flu, leaving Ireland manager John O'Keeffe with a hard decision to make.

Having already declared he wouldn't be taking anyone with an injury to Australia when the players fly out later this week, O'Keeffe had to factor in Dooher's inability to train for the international game given his absence from the summer's training camps while Tyrone were homing in on the county's first All-Ireland title.

Kelly had been an enthusiastic presence all summer and his pace and ability to carry the ball made him an obvious replacement for Dooher.