The 2020 All-Ireland Hurling Championship begins at long last on Saturday evening with the fascinating replay of one of 2019's most memorable fixtures. It's such a relief to have hurling back in our lives, and Dublin v Laois has a number of fascinating storylines. Back in July 2019, Eddie Brennan's Laois shocked Dublin at a sun-kissed and thronged O'Moore Park. An empty Croke Park will be the setting for the rematch this Saturday evening.
Mattie Kenny has had a really long time to consider how Laois unpicked Dublin on that day two summers ago. The deployment of his star man Chris Crummey will prove key to tomorrow's result and Kenny seems to be prepping the Lucan Sarsfields man for a run in the forwards.
Crummey told Sky Sports this week he's as comfortable playing half forward as he is playing half back
"That's where I finished up against Wexford when I got injured. I've been playing for the club in the forwards over the past few months and in recent years.
"I'll play anywhere. Half forward or half back - there are a lot of similarities there between the roles. You see wing backs getting forward and wing forwards back in their own defence doing donkey work.
"After playing in the forwards for both club and county it's more than likely that's where I'll be but I'll play wherever Mattie Kenny decides to play me."
Speaking on Inside The Game this week on Sky Sports, Jamesie O'Connor identified Crummey's performance as pivotal should Dublin to be serious about overcoming Laois tomorrow, and wondered if the Metropolitans are weakening their hand by playing their best player outside of his best position.
'Are they robbing Peter to pay Paul?' O'Connor asked. 'On his day, Crummey is one of the best wing backs in the game.' (Jump to 7.37)
It's worth noting that Dublin handily defeated Laois in the League back in February, with Crummey starting in the halfback line. We're fascinated to see what kind of havoc the Lucan Sarsfields man might be able to cause if deployed in the Dublin forward line.
