This summer, Pat O'Neill has been entrenched in the heart of a defensive unit which has fashioned the reputation of being one of the most effective in the business. At 27, he is likely to weather out the twilight of his career there, looking more and more like a natural full-back. But it wasn't always so.
As a youngster, O'Neill's reputation preceded him around the heartland of Kilkenny. He is from Gowran, learned his trade with the Young Ireland club and grew up in the venerable company of DJ Carey and Charlie Carter.
He inspired unbridled superlatives while playing for the club in the county minor final of 1988. He showed himself to be a skilful player for someone so physically imposing and displayed an incredible natural dexterity when striking the ball.
He remains difficult to block in that he can strike either right or left even after he has pitched the ball in the air. He blossomed on one of the great Kilkenny minor teams alongside his two Gowran team-mates and quickly moved along to U-21 level in 1990.
It is said that he later voiced his disappointment at being overlooked as centre-half back in favour of Tom Murphy but he nonetheless was seen as one of Kilkenny's brightest prospects and he inevitably progressed to the senior ranks at the beginning of the decade.
Kilkenny were on the rise at the time and O'Neill was named at centre-half back for their All-Ireland final match against Cork. He was awarded man of the match that day, memorably battling on with a head bandage which lent him the stature of noble warrior. Many people, though, felt he was at his most sublime a year later when Kilkenny retained their title. He was magnificent over Kilkenny's two-game Leinster Final epic with Wexford, untested in the subsequent stroll against Antrim and again unrivalled in their defeat of Galway in the final.
Many felt that he deserved a man of the match award in that game more so than for his display the previous year, but the nod went to a Galway player.
O'Neill was peaking then and many felt that Ollie Walsh had unearthed another Ger Henderson, that he would evolve into one of the great expansive centre-backs of modern times.
But if there is to be any criticism of O'Neill, it's that he did not build on the reputation he carved out so peerlessly. He has been known to struggle with weight problems, and the fact that he often manned the number three spot for Gowran may well have contributed to his stepping back to the more confining role of full-back.
Yet even from there, he exerts untold influence, keeping a tight ship alongside the unquenchable Willie O'Connor and rookie captain Tom Hickey.
Canice Brennan, the current centre-back, has repeatedly paid homage to O'Neill's presence behind him, and there is a general consensus that the big man is one of the purest strikers of the ball in the country.
In the first round of the Championship, he hit one point against Dublin but conceded three to his old team-mate Eamon Morrissey. But, like the rest of his team he settled, holding John Ryan of Offaly scoreless in the Leinster Final.
Against Waterford, his influence was simply oppressive as he set about silencing the lightning quick Paul Flynn (he held him to a point from play) and generally dictated events from deep.
On Sunday, he lines out against the sparkling Joe Dooley, unless Offaly switch around (a distinct possibility). If they match up as selected, sports fans will be treated to a clash between two of the finest exponents of the offensive and defensive arts currently playing the game.
(Profile: Keith Duggan)
The Facts:Club: Young Irelands.
Age: 27.
Job: Sales representative.
Height: 6 ft 2 ins.
Weight: 14st.
Honours: All-Ireland SHC - 1992; All-Ireland Under-21 - 1990; All-Ireland MHC - 1988; Leinster SHC - 1992, 1998; NHL - 1995; All Star - 1993.
