LIAM RUSHE HOPES that Ger Cunningham’s open door recruitment can turn up Dublin hurling’s next big thing.
The new Dubs boss has promised to consider any player who makes themselves available for selection, including any potential dual stars.
“It’s never too late for someone to develop and come on the scene,” Rushe said yesterday.
“The example everybody uses, we’d love to turn up a Seamus Harnedy, every county would. Whether there is or not in Dublin, we’ll wait and see.”
The defender, who is under consideration for another All-Star himself, believes that Dublin have already thoroughly excavated their talent pool for hidden gems.
I really enjoyed Donal Óg [Cusack] banging on there about during the year about how we need new forwards, clean sweep, and find new players. I was kind of looking going, ‘What new players could he possibly be talking about?’
“We’ll just try and bring through a few lads from this year’s minor team. They were pretty strong again. The U21s went well; they were probably a bit unlucky, it was a good Wexford side. Hopefully we can turn up a few more.”
As for dual stars, most of the capital’s prospects have been siphoned off by the senior footballers in recent years with only Conal Keaney and David O’Callaghan making the transition from big ball to small.
Ciaran Kilkenny, Cormac Costello, Emmet O Conghaile and Eric Lowndes all committed to Jim Gavin’s squad in 2014 with Conor McHugh also choosing football over hurling at U21 level.
The pressures of senior inter-county level, as much as the strength of the capital’s footballers, mitigate against players who might consider doubling down, Rushe explained.
“Ger left open the possibility of dual roles but I don’t think anyone would be bothered at this stage, especially looking at Aidan Walsh who was the main proponent of it.
“He did a really good job in both codes and he said he won’t do it next year and you couldn’t do yourself justice. That’s a good example.
The lads would be welcome but I wouldn’t see them coming on board next year.
Not even the prospect of working under Cunningham, a three-time All-Ireland winner as a player and Hurler of the Year in 1986, can tempt any undecideds off the fence.
“If [Anthony] Daly couldn’t sway them then I don’t think they can be swayed.
“The footballers are seriously strong and I think those guys have their eyes on All-Ireland football glory.”
Cunningham’s job has been billed by some as a rebuilding project after a disappointing summer which saw Dublin fail to build on their 2013 momentum and instead crash out of the championship in the quarter-finals.
While he admits that a few lads are still “humming and hawing” on retirement, Rushe is adamant that this current squad still has a lot to prove.
“To hear some people say the team is finished… I know there are natural cycles in a team and in six years, there is a bit of turnover.
“In those six years, I think something like 20 players have come and gone onto the panel since I started in 2009 so it’s not like we started with the same 15 and they stayed there.
“We’d love a bit of new blood. We’d love some new players pushing for sports and hopefully we’ll get it.
“But it’s a bit early to be talking about the demise of this team.”
Under Armour ambassador Liam Rushe was at Portmarnock beach to learn about the benefits of Under Armour’s STORM technology. For further information log on to www.underarmour.com
