Daly: Waterford have best 20 players in the country

Waterford have the best 20 players in the country and a squad capable of winning an All-Ireland SHC title, says Anthony Daly.

It's 1959 since the Déise last landed Liam MacCarthy, with reigning champions Limerick ending their championship interest for two years running, in the 2020 All-Ireland final and last year at the penultimate stage.

Both those games were 11-point defeats, but many believe Liam Cahill's men are the side best equipped to topple the Treaty men

The early season form has been promising - undefeated in 1B and registering tallies of 2-15, 7-31, 3-21 and 1-28 along the way, with Sunday’s comprehensive win over Tipperary managed without Austin Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson, Jamie Barron, Calum Lyons and Pauric Mahony.

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As far as Daly is concerned, there is serious strength in depth throughout the squad, arguably more so than even what's Limerick manager John Kiely has at his disposal.

Waterford’s attacking prowess in recent weeks has been all the more impressive given the absence of Hutchinson and Mahony due to their club exploits with Ballygunner.

"Stephen Bennett is on fire at the moment, almost unmarkable," Daly told the RTÉ GAA podcast.

"Even yesterday, Jack Prendergast's display - talk about growing into it. The two Dalys (Iarlaith and Carthach). Tadhg (de Burca) back at centre-back.

"You're saying, 'there's my centre-back back, and I have probably one of the best full-backs (Conor Prunty) in the country'. They are going to have five subs to bring on that no one has to