Players have to rise to the challenge: Liam Rushe

Dublin hurler Liam Rushe is looking forward to year ahead and working with the new additions to Ger Cunningham's squad.

"It’s a new year and a seriously new panel with a lot of good, new additions, and I’m looking forward to working with them.

"Maybe the energy and enthusiasm that these lads bring might be what we need.

"I’m just looking forward to more development on that front because I wouldn’t want to burden too many of the young lads with too many expectations.

"The minors coming up, you wouldn’t expect too many to come on as starters. It’s more a step up from the likes of Oisín O’Rorke and we’re going to see Eoghan O’Donnell and Oisín Gough develop again. They are going to have to step up now and be the leaders that we need them to be.

"If there are going to be five or six 19-20 year olds there, the 22-23 year-olds are going to have to the leaders.

"In playing terms, if you look back at the starting teams from last year, we haven't actually lost that much.

"I know Daire Plunkett started a game and Paul Ryan started a game and they did whole league campaigns but it's not like we're after getting rid of our whole half-back line or midfield or whatever. I think people's pronouncements are a bit premature.

"Sometimes it just takes a spark, a bit of luck and a little bit of a clean injury run."