Limerick Hurling Team of the Decade: Centre Back

The decade that was 2010-2019 is fast coming to an end.

For the Limerick hurlers, it was a mixed decade that started with a protest but would ultimately deliver a first All-Ireland title in 45 years.

Overall, Limerick won one All-Ireland title, Two Munster Championships, a Division 1 League Title and A Division 2 League title.

Over the next fifteen days in the lead up to Christmas, I will select my team of the decade that saw Limerick play 40 championship games and 68 League games.

Already we have selected our;

Goalkeeper,

Right Corner Back, Full Back & Left Corner Back,

Diarmaid Byrnes made the cut at wing back with the centre-back of the team being named today.

Centre Back

Declan Hannon

Adare

2011-Present

Honours: All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, 2x Munster Senior Hurling Championship, Division 1 League Title, Division 2 League Title, U21 Munster Championship, All-Star.

Declan Hannon will forever be etched in Limerick history as the man to lift Liam MacCarthy after a 45-year long wait.

This alone is enough to see him onto the team, not that his performances do not deserve it.

He arrived onto the scene in 2011 with a world of expectations on his shoulder such was form with Ard Scoil Rís.

After a number of years in the forwards where he never quite reached his potential, the introduction of John Kiely in 2017 saw Hannon revert back to centre-back where he has flourished ever since, winning an All-Star there during Limerick’s run to the All-Ireland.

Honourable Mentions: Wayne McNamara

Centre-back proved to be a troublesome position for Limerick this decade but Wayne McNamara, a clubmate of Hannon’s, held down the role for a some time.