Dunne to play central role

All-Ireland hurling qualifiers: Tomorrow in Portlaoise Tipperary, still coping with the mental scars of last month's heavy defeat by Clare, start the road to rehabilitation. The qualifier first round against a Laois side managed by Tipp man Paudie Butler is not expected to derail the 2001 All-Ireland champions but there will be plenty of interest in the match.

Among the changes made by manager Michael Doyle the most newsworthy are the selection of former Kilkenny All-Ireland captain Denis Byrne at full forward and the switch of Tommy Dunne to centre back. Byrne's place on the team may be more of an issue but Tipperary's season will be far more dependent on the results of the Dunne experiment.

For years centre back has been a problem for the county. Even the All-Ireland titles of 1989 and '91 were won with Bobby Ryan in the position even though he wasn't a specialist. Since Ryan's retirement numerous players were tried and significantly the next All-Ireland wasn't won until David Kennedy staked a claim to the position during Nicholas English's management. Kennedy's decline has been a catastrophe for Tipp. Doyle started as if Aidan Butler would be his choice but late in the league he reverted to Kennedy until the Clare match proved this untenable until the player regains form.

In his 10th championship season, Dunne has been his county's most distinguished hurler over that period. Hurler of the year two seasons ago when Tipp won the All-Ireland he has operated between the forwards and centrefield. For those who believe in putting a team's best hurler at the heart of the defence, Dunne will fit the bill. His attributes make him worth a shot according to John McIntyre, hurling analyst and a predecessor of Dunne at number six for Tipperary.

"It's certainly a move I would have considered making," he says. "A risk well worth taking. He has a big-day pedigree and the potential to make it his position. He's a very wristy player and an outstanding striker plus Tipperary have been struggling in the position. He's done most of his hurling around midfield, which is breaking-ball country. At centre back you're going to have the ball zooming down on top of you.

"The first job is to stop the ball going in behind you, cut it off and hold the centre. A good half-back line prevents the ball going in behind. Defenders are most uncomfortable when being turned and having to chase the ball when opposition forwards are getting a run on them. But I'd also say with his brother (Benny, moved from corner back) playing on the wing beside him they'll be highly motivated to make sure there's no repeat of what happened against Clare."

It's 30 years since Eamonn Cregan made a similar journey in Limerick's 1973 All-Ireland final success. For that match he was switched from corner forward and played a major role in his county's most recent All-Ireland victory. "I wouldn't see any problem if he was playing there regularly with his club (which Dunne does not). Michael Doyle would have been thinking Tommy Dunne's not playing well at the moment but he's a good hurler with the pace to move left and right forwards and back," says Cregan.

"I had played a good bit for my club at number six. It wasn't just a question of going from corner forward to centre back for an All-Ireland final. He has the mobility and mobility is everything in modern hurling. A slower player at centre back will find it very difficult to create space."

There is an argument the move is "robbing Peter to pay Paul", says McIntyre. "Tommy Dunne has been a regular scorer over the years, providing a good source of invaluable scores. But it could be a new lease of life for him."

His role as a provider shouldn't be forgotten either says Cregan.

"When he played well at midfield Tipp played well. He supplied Eoin Kelly with beautiful ball. Maybe he can continue to do that but Kelly will have to come out a bit further."

Dunne is tall but his physique is slight, which is another worry. in a position where there can be a lot of confrontation and high ball.

"People have questioned whether he has the physique," says McIntyre. "Some centre halves have made physique their strongest suit but look at Ronan Curran for Cork last week. He didn't look physically imposing but he didn't get involved in the hip-to-hip stuff. He just hurled ball."