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Rushe told gaa.ie the players were keen to be a part of the selection process and avoid the player v manager issues that dogged Cork during the 2000s.

“I think everybody was taking a line from the Cork strike team,” he said. “There’s no point having somebody foisted upon you by the county board.”

He said the county were respectful of this and kept the players informed throughout the search for a new manager.

“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.”

Cunningham had been a member of Jimmy Barry Murphy’s Cork backroom team prior to his appointment and has extensive previous experience as both a selector and a manager at club level.

The Dublin appointment is his first inter-county management role and Rushe said the players have confidence in him to make the step up.

"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,” said Rushe. “I suppose it was about time he got a shot at a county job and we’re happy enough it was Dublin.”

Hat tip: gaa.ie