Maturing Joyce at the heart of Rebel evolution

For a measure of how a player is valued, very often you need look no further than his club. When he was barely out of his teens, Na Piarsaigh trusted Christopher Joyce with the most pivotal and responsible position on the field, centre-back.

Flanking Chris? A couple of fellas you might have heard of: John Gardiner and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, either of whom could have been shifted to the middle. Na Piarsaigh however had faith in the strapping youngster in their midst.

“Yeah, well Sean Óg and John,” he grins.