The departure of Limerick's decorated centre-back and captain Declan Hannon has left manager John Kiely with much to mull over with regards to the number six jersey.
The Adare man led his county through the most decorated period in the county’s hurling history, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden career last winter.
Injury curtailed his final season, with Kyle Hayes locking down the heart of the Treaty defence, but his playing style was perhaps more offensive than Hannon’s, who tended to hold his position rather than drift upfield.
With Hannon now departed, Kiely has handed the number six jersey to Will O’Donoghue, with the five-time All-Ireland winner looking assured against both Waterford and Kilkenny in the opening rounds of the Allianz Hurling League.
"Exceptional" was former Tipperary player Shane McGrath's assessment of O'Donoghue's display in the seven-point win over Kilkenny. Sterner tests await this summer summer, but speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, McGrath believes the bigger question for Kiely and his backroom team surrounds style rather than personnel.
McGrath argues that a "sitting six", a centre-back in the mould of Hannon will mean those further up the field may have to sacrifice their own game for the sake of the team.
"Unless he was scoring a point, Declan Hannon was not going past the 65," McGrath told listeners.
"Most sixes are sitting. If they go, it gets exploited, and if they don't go, then you need someone up the field to sacrifice a bit of their game to curtail 11.
"If they are to play that sitting six role, and you play against Eoin Cody (Kilkenny) or Shane Barrett (Cork) at centre-forward, you are asking more of one of the midfielders, or else your wing-forwards to drop deeper, to kind of suffocate that space around the middle third.
"Someone is going to have to sacrifice a lot of their game so that the six can stay at six, like Declan Hannon was, like Will O’Donoghue was the other day, instrumental in the quality of ball going forward and covering for the full-back line.
"Can you get to get someone to do that for the team? It’s easier said than done."
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