Rushe backs Dublin hurlers to come back stronger
Dublin Hurler Liam Rushe in attendance at Croke Park in Dublin, as PwC announce an extension of their title sponsorship of PwC GAA/GPA All-Stars and Camogie All-Stars for a further three years. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Liam Rushe believes the current Dublin hurling panel can win some silverware in the not-too-distant future if they stick together.
The Na Fianna clubman returned to the panel this year after a four-year absence having previously played for Dublin team that needed to learn a few hard lessons before they won the county’s last Leinster title in 2013.
That experience has convinced him good days can return for Dublin hurling if the current crop also keep the faith despite their season being ended by consecutive heavy defeats to Galway and Clare.
“Absolutely, you've just got to keep coming back. You know, the progress is not going to be linear. It'll be in fits and starts.
“We had some huge wins last year and I really felt like we’d tightened things up this year and were competitive in most games.
“Sadly, we saved our two worst performances for last, really.
“I just think if the team continues to progress, that there's definitely success in the near future.”
The fact that, as Rushe says, Dublin saved their worst two performances for last this year is worth putting under the microscope.
Liam Rushe of Dublin before the Leinster GAA Senior Hurling Championship final match between Galway and Dublin at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.
The Leinster Final defeat to Galway was particularly disappointing because many of the same players also fell flat in the 2024 Final against Kilkenny which suggests there’s something lacking in their mentality that is preventing them from playing to their full potential on the biggest days of all.
“I'm sure there is,” says Rushe. “And, you know, if I could bottle it, I'd sell it. I'd be a rich man. But I couldn't tell you why we underperform on the big day here in Croker. You know, possibly nerves.
“Possibly people were a bit fatigued. I was half injured and there was definitely a bit of that. We lost our two starting corner forwards. One of them was able to come on and then got taken off because he was re-injured in the final. So, you know, there were different things went against us on that day.
“But you're right, possibly a bit of nerves and that. There's only so many dropped balls and missed touches you can overcome on the day.”
The year ended in disappointment, but Rushe has no regrets about deciding to return to test himself at the very highest level of the game again at the age of 35.
“I enjoyed it,” he says. “Probably enjoyed it more than I did my last few years previously. It has definitely has changed somewhat. It's definitely more tactical than it was.
“There's more analysis than ever, more information at your fingertips than ever before. But, yeah, enjoyed it. Thought the set-up was very good and glad I went back overall.
“I'd considered it the previous two years. Particularly when Nelly (Niall Ó Ceallacháin) took over in '25, we'd had the discussion, but I just had too many different niggly injuries to get over. I couldn't countenance going back in with Dublin for another six-month run, so I just let that opportunity go by.
“At start of this year I was finally in one piece, and I just got in touch and he said, come on board.”
Rushe performed well despite his four-year hiatus from the inter-county game, so will we see him in a Dublin jersey again in 2027?
“That's definitely a wait and see," he says. "I wouldn't make any decision three days after being knocked out of a championship. It'd be a rash one.”
