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Cunningham, left, and old friend JBM will go head-to-head on the sidelines next season. James Crombie/INPHO
Meet the new boss

'Everybody was taking a line from the Cork strike team' - Dubs players had input on Cunningham job

Liam Rushe says new Dublin hurling boss Ger Cunningham has “been there and won it all before.”

THE DUBLIN COUNTY Board kept an open line to the dressing room before appointing Ger Cunningham as hurling manager.

Three player representatives consulted with county board officials during the search for Anthony Daly’s successor and were briefed on prospective candidates.

Cunningham was named Dubs boss on a three-year term last week, replacing Daly who stepped down after six seasons at the helm.

“I think everybody was taking a line from the Cork strike team,” All-Star nominee Liam Rushe said yesterday. ”There’s no point having somebody foisted upon you by the county board.

“In fairness to them, they consulted with us every step of the way. We had three lads just liaising with them to hear what they had, who they were interviewing, and what was going on.”

The job is Cunningham’s first at senior inter-county level but Rushe has no doubts about the Cork legend’s CV as a player, selector and coach.

“I suppose Ger has a lot of experience. He’s been a selector in a few regimes, he’s won All-Irelands, Hurler of the Year, so I think he has the necessary experience.

I suppose it was about time he got a shot at a county job and we’re happy enough it was Dublin.

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Rushe added: “Anyone who followed Anthony was going to need a fair profile really, weren’t they? They were probably going to pale in comparison [otherwise].

“If not a step up, he’s certainly on a level peg. He has won it all, he’s been there and won it all before.”

Daly took time to consider his Dublin future following their All-Ireland quarter-final exit before eventually calling it a day.

“I suppose the three-year commitment, he might have baulked at that,” Rushe suggested at an Under Armour media day in Dublin yesterday.

“It’s something we should have done three years previous rather than tacking on a year at the end of every year.

I think that was a good idea from the county board, nailing on Ger for three years so he can put a structure or plan together for that length of time.

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

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