Rushe hoping to put senior defeat behind him

Liam Rushe is relishing the chance to lead the Dublin Under-21s through to the All-Ireland final, less than a week after the senior side's Championship run was ended by Tipperary.

The Rushe-captained U-21s will take on Ulster champions Antrim in an intriguing All-Ireland semi-final in Newry on Saturday (throw-in 4pm).

"It is a massive game for us this weekend, facing Antrim in Newry," admitted Rushe, who was the man-of-the-match in the Dubs' Leinster U-21 final win over Wexford last month.

"Antrim are going to pose a big challenge. They are battle hardened after a tough Ulster final against Armagh. They came through with only a few points to spare.

"We know especially after they beat us last year in the Senior Championship, the challenge which they pose.

"They'll hurl until the death. We just have to go up there and put in a performance and hopefully come out on top."

With the SHC semi-final defeat to Tipp still fresh in the memory, Rushe says it has been a week of mixed emotions.

"It was bittersweet really, wasn't it? People are almost congratulating us and telling us that we were very good, even though we lost.

"To be honest I am disappointed. I was happy enough we hurled relatively close to our potential and gave a good account of ourselves, but unfortunately you have to be disapponted that we didn't actually win.

"Tipperary in Munster were absolutely on fire, and it is understandable that people were thinking that we were going to be well beaten.

"We knew ourselves that was never going to happen. We believed that we could win, but unfortunately it didn't fall right for us."

Rushe believes that there is more to come from both the capital's senior and Under-21 sides.

"We be back challenging at senior level next year, and this is a very good Under-21 also. There will be another two or three added to the senior panel from it."

Anthony Daly is set to stay on as Dublin senior hurling manager and Rushe believes that the Clare native will want to continue the good work of the past three seasons.

"I fully expect him to be there (for next season)," added the versatile St. Patrick's, Palmerstown clubman.

"He is an inspirational figure. He has literally been through the whole process that we are trying to bring about.

"He knows where we are coming from and he is the right man for the job. He is the right man to steer us to an All-Ireland final hopefully next year.

"A lot of hard yards were put in before he arrived, but he came in at the proper moment. Next year we can hopefully fulfil our potential with him at the helm."