County chairman Gerry Harrington stressed that retaining Daly and his management team was now a priority for the board despite Saturday's dispiriting championship exit to Antrim.

Describing Daly as "shattered" in the wake of the one-point defeat to the Saffrons, Harrington insisted the Clarecastle native would be given the necessary time and space to in order make up his mind.

"I have spoken with Anthony and he has asked for some time to consider his position," Harrington told the Herald.

"Certainly, the county board will give him all the time he needs. The Dublin county board would welcome Anthony to continue with open arms. There's no question of that whatsoever.

"Anthony has all the time in the world to make up his mind but please God, his response will be positive.

DEVASTATION

"The county board have no problem with Anthony staying on. We granted him an extension to his original two-year agreement up until after 2011 and we would be doing everything in our power to convince him to stay."

Daly was non-committal about his intentions in the direct aftermath of the defeat and says now that he won't be pushed into making any "emotionally driven decisions," while his managerial efforts will now be concentrated on the All-Ireland Under 21 semi-final with Galway in just over three weeks time.

"I haven't seen devastation like it in a dressing room since Ciaran Carey scored his famous fantastic late score in 1996," said Daly in his Evening Herald column today.

"If anything consoles me a little bit this week it is that the real pain of defeat is now being felt by the boys.

"I thought last year we didn't hurt enough after defeat... For now, it's not a time for any emotionally driven decisions by anyone involved."

Daly also hinted that some of Dublin's elder statesmen would be considering intercounty retirement after Saturday's disappointment.

"I know a few of the older brigade will be contemplating their futures this week," he said. "If they decide to call a halt they will do so owing the boys in blue absolutely nothing."

- Conor McKeon - Evening Herald