By Cian O'Connell

Dublin are investing hugely in youth for the upcoming Allianz Hurling League campaign, but Eoghan O'Donnell is adamant the newcomers will adapt to the senior inter-county arena quickly.

Twenty one year old O'Donnell has emerged as a key figure for Ger Cunningham's team and is relishing Saturday evening's ecounter against Tipperary. "Yeah the All Ireland champions in Croke Park for an opener to the League is a huge challenge," O'Donnell admits.

"It's where you want to be, you want to pit yourself against the best and this is the best so we are looking forward to it."

O'Donnell is adamant the youngsters are ready. "I think so you have to give the young lads a chance and they’ll either take it with both hands or someone else will be ready to step in and take their place.

"There are so many young hurlers coming through we are delighted with and we can’t wait to see who stands up and takes their chance. There are 15 jerseys there and we’ll have 15 players to take them so we are looking forward to it."

Who has impressed O'Donnell recently? "A lot of lads, Donal Burke from Na Fianna has come in and been an absolute star for us. Paddy Smith at corner back has been a star.

"Cuala are obviously in the Championship and there’s an advantage to those players being missing in that other players come in and they get given the chance and those players might have been ignored otherwise so it’s brilliant in terms of bringing new players on to the panel."

The Dublin panel has altered significantly in the past 18 months, but the mood is good according to O'Donnell. "It is natural that county teams change over the years. Dublin is no different.

"A lot of young lads have come through, they haven't known any different in the set-up. They are just buying completely into what we are showing them. It has been brilliant, the enthusiasm. When you are younger all you do is dream of playing for Dublin.

"For a lot of people this is their first chance, so they are absolutely gunning for it. They are delighted to be there, it is a hard thing to recreate that energy. It is brilliant, it has been very enjoyable so far."