Rushe in a hurry for success

SATURDAY’S emphatic All-Ireland qualifier success overClare has generated plenty of optimism in Dublin hurling circles, and Liam Rushe wants to that feelgood sensation to continue.

Tomorrow night in Parnell Park, Dublin bid to defeat Wexford and claim the Leinster U21HC title, and Rushe is hoping to make it a memorable week for fans of the small ball code in the capital.

He said: “Saturday was our first qualifier win and when you think about it, three years ago we seemed to be going nowhere. Now we are finally starting to play consistently in the championship. We are beating Clare and we beat Wexford before. It comes down to experience. A few years ago only a few lads had experienced a senior victory. You get used to it and know what it takes.”

Plenty of pre-match opinions were traded about the emotional dilemma facing Dublin boss and former Clare All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Daly before facing his native county, managed by his old friend Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin. But Rushe revealed it was never a major issue in their camp.

“He’s Dublin through and through. It’s as though he was born here. I’m sure it was a bit of extra incentive for him. You certainly wouldn’t want to lose to an old team-mate. He was delighted with the win. If he had mixed emotions he certainly didn’t show them to us. The Sparrow came in, in fairness to him, and congratulated us and wished us all the best.”

Despite that senior win Rushe is keen to stress the importance of tomorrow’s U21 game. Dublin excelled when defeating provincial championship favourites Kilkenny in the semi-final, and Rushe now wants them to claim silverware to signal their progress.

“We really need this win. What is the point of beating Kilkenny, who have been the favourites pretty much every year, if you are not going to pick up the silverware at the end of it?

“In Dublin, if we are going to keep talking about development we are going to have to win things. We have to pick up trophies and Wednesday is a serious opportunity.

“Ten years ago it would be unheard of for Dublin to be contesting Leinster finals and thinking about winning them. An All-Ireland title would be fantastic, and would vindicate all the effort and money that’s gone into underage hurling. But we won’t get ahead of ourselves and will concentrate on Wexford. They’ll be looking for vengeance. We beat them by 23 points last year. We know they were better than that last year and we know they’re going to be better this year again.”

Rushe has praised this year’s management setup with senior selector Richie Stakelum overseeing the U21’s fortunes. “It’s effectively the same management for both teams. This year you’re told where you have to be and what you have to do.”