JACKIE TYRRELL reckons Declan Hannon may be forced to take a back seat as Limerick aim to get back on the road for the first time since their Drive for Five crashed.
Veteran centre-back Hannon, 32, was an inspirational skipper during a seven-year spell that yielded five All-Irelands and six Munster SHC titles for the Treaty.
But Cian Lynch has assumed the captaincy for 2025, prompting speculation that Hannon’s place in the team is in jeopardy.
William O’Donoghue and Cathal O’Neill have previously deputised for the Adare man at the heart of Limerick’s defence, while boss John Kiely selected Kyle Hayes as his starting centre-back in a challenge match against Waterford last weekend.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast, Kilkenny legend Tyrrell said: “The fact that he has moved the captaincy on suggests to me that it’s one area of concern that Limerick have and are going to address it.
“Will it mean Declan Hannon being in that six position? We’ll have to wait and see.
“Will they try to protect him a bit better or will they just go: the time has come for a new direction, a new captain, a new six. And they have options in there. I would suggest he will go with the latter.”
Limerick’s bid for an unprecedented fifth straight Liam MacCarthy Cup was thwarted by a semi-final loss to Cork last July.
Tyrrell recalls that Hannon ‘struggled’ on a day when rapid Rebels attacker Shane Barrett bagged 0-3.
The former Cats defender added: “Six is a pivotal role. You command the position from there. Like goalkeeping, you’re almost like a quarter-back where you can drop, you can step up.
“It’s a hugely influential position and one that Limerick have gotten right for the best part of seven, eight, nine years.
“Declan Hannon has been unbelievable but the question is, has the time come and passed now?”
Limerick will have their first competitive outing of the year when they take on Cork in the National League tomorrow night at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
As he embarks on his ninth season in charge, Kiely will be forced into at least one major change as goalkeeper Nickie Quad is sidelined with an ACL knee injury.
But Tyrrell insisted: “It’s probably the first time that John Kiely has really been challenged in terms of the year that’s just gone by, it wasn’t good enough.
“So he can’t go back with the same 15, he can’t go back with the same ideas.
“He needs to come with something different so that poses a question on how ruthless he is.
“He has been very loyal to a lot of his lieutenants that have served him really well.”
