Liam Rushe primed for duel with Cats

All-Ireland champions Kilkenny may have suffered a few retirements in the off-season but Dublin hurler Liam Rushe knows going to Nowlan Park to face the Cats is one of toughest assignments in the game.

“I think there was a lot of talk in the media about Kilkenny being at half-mast for the League with so many lads retired and injured and that but I think they showed they weren’t on the first day,” says Liam of Kilkenny’s opening round victory over Cork.

“There’s such competition in that panel.”

The big St Pat’s of Palmerstown man has been relocated to full-forward so far this season and last Sunday, after a difficult opening phase, contributed handsomely when scoring 1-1, creating the goal-scoring opportunity for Eamonn Dillon as well as being fouled for scoreable frees.

He was tried at full-forward in the past on the back of some excellent showing there during his underage career.

“I think we have different personnel now in a big way than we had then.

“And I think there is a lot more balance and maybe it might work this time and there are different lads pushing through and PK (Peter Kelly) could be a grand centre-back and free me up for elsewhere or vice versa.

“It’s a bit of a learning curve,” says Liam.

“I’m a bit raw at times, spinning around in circles ... and you’d want to see me shooting over my shoulder!

“But other than that things are coming good.”