Daly salutes Dublin’s new found confidence

IT was a 21st birthday to remember for Dublin’s Liam Rushe at Tullamore on Saturday night.

Rushe began the Leinster championship semi-final at midfield but was moved to centre back after first choice Peter Kelly went to the edge of the square following an early injury to Tomás Brady. Both proved inspirational calls with Kelly’s mastery of Joe Canning a major factor in the capital side’s win while Rushe’s supreme display in his new home just edging him out for the man of the match award.

“Am I finally a man now?” laughed birthday boy Rushe. “I enjoyed it out there, which is what Anthony (Daly) told us to do – that’s what we’re here for. We’re here because we love our hurling. We anticipated a massive battle and relished every minute of it. We weren’t wishing for the final whistle or anything, we kept going. Before, Dublin might have panicked, been dying for the final whistle, hitting balls aimlessly away, but we kept driving on.”