How they rate: Analysis by Seán Moran and Tom Humphries
MUNSTER
Clare
Manager: Cyril Lyons (third year).
Titles: Munster 5 (1998), All-Ireland 3 (1997).
Last year: Lost Munster first round to Tipperary 2-13 to 1-18, lost All-Ireland final to Kilkenny 0-19 to 2-20.
NHL position: 6th Division One, Group One.
Assessment: For all the sniping at Cyril Lyons, his managerial feat in taking the county to last year's All-Ireland stands comparison with the 1997 All-Ireland win. After all, Clare were the best team in the country that year; were they the second best last summer? The depressing conclusion to the league - losing all three phase two matches - won't trigger too many alarm bells given that the core of the team is so experienced at getting themselves right for the championship. But the monotony of facing Tipp for the fifth successive year must be getting to even those metronomic preparations.
As usual the defence looks capable and hard, centrefield serviceable, but the attack is still the attack. Anyone suspected of being an intercounty forward got a run in the league. Tipp's availability woes have balanced this weekend's prospects but Lyons desperately needs James O'Connor, Alan Markham and Niall Gilligan to click, whatever combination guards their best form.
Cork
Manager: Donal O'Grady (first year).
Titles: Munster 46 (2000), All-Ireland 28 (1999).
Last year: lost Munster semi-final to Waterford 1-15 to 1-16, lost All-Ireland second round qualifier to Galway 1-9 to 0-21.
NHL position: 3rd Division One, Group One.
Assessment: After a winter of Spartacus and a spring of sparring, Cork come to the championship as something of an enigma. Can Donal O'Grady get the best from both ends of the broom? If he can the potential is there.
In terms of freshness the news is good. Tom Kenny seems big enough and skilled enough to make the leap from junior club to senior intercounty and compete for a place in an unsettled midfield. John Gardiner may yet become this summer's boy wonder. A half-back line with Gardiner, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Ronan Curran seems like a good platform. For what though? Cork have a preponderance of forwards who will contribute modest scores but nobody who causes a stir like a fox among chickens. Setanta Ó hAilpín appears to have all the right stuff and he and Eoin Fitzgerald will battle it out for a place on the full-forward line as Cork look to punch the holes for Joe Deane to speed through.
Limerick
Manager: Dave Keane (first year).
Titles: Munster 17 (1996), All-Ireland 7 (1973).
Last year: Lost Munster semi-final to Tipperary 1-20 to 1-13, lost All-Ireland qualifier second round to Cork 1-15 to 1-16.
NHL position: 1st Division One, Group Two.
Assessment: Winning three under-21 All-Irelands in a row brings expectations as well as kudos. Every county that has managed the feat has added a senior title but not necessarily in seamless consequence. Dave Keane's apparent belief that he could import underage success directly to senior level is questionable. Early disasters in the league seem to have deflated the public mood to more manageable dimensions and there was some encouragement in phase two of the league.
They'll have every chance against Waterford in three weeks but need certain things in place. More experienced players will be needed to provide the framework for the younger talents. Mark Foley's ability to do this is unquestioned and there are signs that Ollie Moran has rediscovered form at the right time. Otherwise it's wait and see but Limerick look like a work in progress rather than serious contenders.
Tipperary
Manager: Michael Doyle (first year).
Titles: Munster 37 (2001), All-Ireland 25 (2001).
Last year: Lost Munster final to Waterford 3-12 to 2-23, lost All-Ireland semi-final to Kilkenny 1-16 to 1-20.
NHL position: 1st Group One, Division One, and finalists.
Assessment: Michael Doyle's forebodings about injuries before the league final were realised when Philip Maher's knee went after 20 minutes. Apart from the prodigious Eoin Kelly there's hardly a player whom Doyle would have more trouble replacing. For the past year Tipp have looked the closest challengers to Kilkenny and appeared to be motoring nicely in the direction of a Munster title until first John Leahy and then Maher became indisposed and Eamonn Corcoran ran into disciplinary problems. They still have the wherewithal to deliver in the province but with every knock-back the margins get thinner. If they can keep it on the road until August, however, they'll fancy their chances against Kilkenny.
Waterford
Manager: Justin McCarthy (second year).
Titles: Munster 6 (2002), All-Ireland 2 (1959).
Last year: Munster champions, lost All-Ireland semi-final to Clare 1-13 to 1-16.
NHL position: 2nd Division One, Group Two.
Assessment: Provincial champions but oddly peripheral to all talk about the late summer and what it might bring. Mount Sion's surprising exit from the club championship was surrounded by rumours of discord and the county team have scarcely performed with much unity of purpose since then. WIT won the Fitzgibbon Cup this year but without a Waterford player on the starting 15.
The half-back line should remain the same as last summer. Company for Tony Browne in midfield is a moot question. Eoin McGrath and Dave Bennett to rotate? The forwards have plenty to offer if they can find it in themselves. A big year from Ken McGrath is necessary. Eoin Kelly needs to step up. Paul Flynn can weigh in but full forward still seems to be a problem area. Andy Moloney looks like the best bet to get the jersey. Tend to blow hot and cold.
LEINSTER
Dublin
Manager: Marty Morris (first year).
Titles: Leinster 22 (1961), All-Ireland 6 (1938).
Last year: Lost Leinster semi-final to Wexford 3-15 to 2-12, lost All-Ireland qualifier first round to Clare 3-22 to 1-8.
NHL position: 5th Division One, Group Two.
Assessment: In Conal Keaney Dublin have a player who would walk on to any team in the country. Recent losses of personnel are critical, however. Ronan Fallon, Mossy McGrane, David O'Callaghan, David Sweeney and Shane Martin would all be close to starting positions if available. That list doesn't include those county footballers who would also stroll on to the county hurling side. The hope is for the future. Cameos from young Michael Carton should be worth watching for this summer.
The measure of interim progress will be the game with Laois. After that the county yearns for an under-21 provincial title and perhaps a good showing against Kilkenny, the qualifiers and the promise of a better future. Plenty of fight, some skill and a way to go yet.
Kilkenny
Manager: Brian Cody (fifth year).
Titles: Leinster 60 (2002), All-Ireland 27 (2002).
Last year: All-Ireland and Leinster champions.
NHL position: 2nd Division One, Group One; winners.
Assessment: The National League final will go down as an epic, the consequences of which we aren't yet ready to judge. Noel Hickey answered questions posed previously by Tipp and Wexford by snuffing out Ger O'Grady and Eugene O'Neill in turn. Peter Barry, filleted by Paul Codd sometime previously, is a player who grows into his season. The biggest worry right now is the ease with which Eoin Kelly takes Philly Larkin for big scores. Elsewhere Kilkenny are ticking over nicely and if the slightest glitch is found there are at least two replacement parts waiting to slot in.
If the Kilkenny attack has flaws it is in the wing positions, where Brian Horgan and Paul Kelly dominated in the league final. The sight of DJ's relief at being freed from Benny Dunne and memories of brief Jimmy Coogan cameos might result in a shake-up there. Favourites and justifiably so. The main hope for everyone else lies in days like that against Galway a couple of years ago.
Laois
Manager: Paudie Butler (first year).
Titles: Leinster 3 (1949), All-Ireland 1 (1915)
Last year: Lost preliminary round final to Meath 1-18 to 2-16.
NHL position: 4th Division One, Group Two.
Assessment: After last year's humiliation some signs of improvement underthe smart management of Paudie Butler. Laois ran neighbours Offaly to a point in April and will have taken some satisfaction from their dismantling of a fancied Dublin team during the league. Having biffed some minnows about in the preliminaries another win over Dublin will be their main aim this year. The form of James Young at midfield has been a bonus while the defence looks increasingly well organised. Not going to reach the promised land but could put somebody on the seat of their pants in the qualifier series.
Offaly
Manager: Michael McNamara (first year).
Titles: Leinster 9 (1995), All-Ireland 4 (1998).
Last year: Lost Leinster semi-final to Kilkenny 1-14 to 2-20, lost All-Ireland qualifier second round to Tipperary 1-9 to 2-19
NHL position: 3rd Division One, Group Two.
Assessment: Birr's customary success in the club championship has given Michael McNamara the opportunity to try out new players during the league, but for a new manager he's had little time to run in his preferred first 15. Retirements from the great All-Ireland-winning teams continue, although Brian Whelahan has decided to keep going and finding an optimum role for him will be near the top of McNamara's agenda. Otherwise there are good new players but lack of experience and physique puts them at a big disadvantage. In good conditions, their talented forwards and hurling fluency should give them a shot at a few teams but not at enough to make the summer last.
Wexford
Manager: John Conran (first year).
Titles: Leinster 18 (1997), All-Ireland 6 (1996).
Last year: Lost Leinster final to Kilkenny 0-17 to 0-19, lost All-Ireland qualifier second round to Clare 3-7 to 3-15.
NHL position: 4th Division One, Group One.
Assessment: John Conran has made an impact in his first year but even within the county doubts persist over the quality of materials available to him. The league performances mixed the very encouraging with the awful. The need for a strong spine in the attack has been evident for a while, so Paul Codd's display on Peter Barry in the final league match will be doubly encouraging: maybe the centre-forward role and the captaincy can develop him into the central influence the team need him to be. Liam Dunne's return to form would be a great benefit if sustained into the summer and fingers will be crossed that Darragh Ryan's recovery from injury is uncomplicated. Despite the recent draw with Kilkenny, few would bet on Wexford winning Leinster but there are plenty of interim goals. Beating Offaly and playing well in the provincial final should set up a longer qualifier run than last year, when Wexford effectively talked themselves out of it.
CONNACHT
Galway
Manager: Conor Hayes (first year).
Titles: Connacht 11 (1999, discontinued), All-Ireland 4 (1988).
Last year: Lost All-Ireland quarter-final to Clare 0-17 to 1-15.
NHL position: 5th Division One, Group One.
Assessment: Always at this time of year one blows the dust off the words and sticks them into the Galway preview. Talent. Potential. Untapped. Some. Day. Soon. Quiet winter. Odd spat with Rory Gantley towards the end seems likely to be put to bed in plenty of time. Which is wise. Gantley is necessary. Galway used a large battalion of players during the league, which saw them draw with Tipp but lose to Clare. Little wonder. Greg Kennedy is missing for the season, Ger Farragher has been mislaid somewhere along the line and Peter Huban's comeback has been abandoned. Kenneth Burke looked like a good bet to augment the forwards but his league campaign was patchy. Good news. Damien Joyce in the right corner back spot. Tony Óg Regan in front of him. A partner for Richie Murray at midfield would be useful. The forwards are full of tricks. Late in the league Alan Kerins began to look less wan. Cloonan, Broderick, Gantley, and co will deliver if given the chances.
ULSTER
Antrim
Manager: Dinny Cahill (second year).
Titles: Ulster 43 (holders), All-Ireland none.
Last year: Ulster champions, lost All-Ireland quarter-final to Tipperary 2-12 to 1-25.
NHL position: 2nd Division Two, Group One, and Division Two winners.
Assessment: Dinny Cahill's revivalist job has gone exactly to plan over the past year. Regaining the Ulster title and putting on a good display against Tipperary developed confidence nicely, while promotion and this month's Division Two title have kept things ticking over. The tricky bit is coming. Whereas Antrim look firm favourites to retain the provincial championship, their progress will be judged on how they perform in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Any slippage on last year would be demoralising but taking a big scalp still looks an outside shot.
Derry
Manager: Dominic McKinley (first year).
Titles: Ulster 4 (2001), All-Ireland none.
Last year: Lost Ulster semi-final replay to Down 1-12 to 2-12 (1-9 to 0-12 draw).
NHL position: 6th Group Two, Division One, and relegated.
Assessment: It would appear that Derry's bubble has burst. Like others before them they found that a couple of seasons punch-bagging in Division One eventually wears out a team. Confidence took a knock anyway in last year's Ulster championship. Bad enough that Antrim reasserted control in the province but Derry didn't even get that far, losing to Down in the semi-final. Winning in New York accomplished a tricky task but it will be uphill from here.
Down
Manager: Jimmy O'Reilly (second year)
Titles: Ulster 4 (1997), All-Ireland none.
NHL position: 4th Division Two, Group Two.
Last year: Lost Ulster final to Antrim 3-16 to 1-18, lost All-Ireland round one qualifier to Galway 0-13 to 7-15.
Assessment: On the face of it Down stalked Antrim through the first stage of the league and finished behind their neighbours by just nine points of scoring difference in the end. The future isn't so bright, however. Antrim stepped up in the second series, Down lost two of three. Hurling on the Ards peninsula isn't having a golden period and Dunloy's defeat of Portaferry in the Ulster club championship may be more indicative of the relationship with Antrim. Still. Martin Coulter jnr and Paul Braniff both score freely and that could be some consolation.
QUALIFIERS
Westmeath
Manager: Michael Conneely (second year)
Titles: Leinster none, All-Ireland none.
Last year: Lost Leinster first preliminary round to Dublin 1-12 to 2-12.
NHL position: 5th Group Two, Division One.
Assessment: Their forwards have shown good touches, both in the defeat to Dublin and in the comfortable win over Kildare, but they don't appear to have the all-round strength of imminent opponents Kerry.
Kerry
Manager: Maurice Leahy (first year).
Titles: Munster 1 (1891), All-Ireland 1 (1891).
Last year: Did not compete.
NHL position: 1st Division Two, Group One, and finalists.
Assessment: This has been a largely positive comeback season at senior level. Having topped Division Two even if they failed to get promotion, they gave Antrim a good run for their money in the divisional final. They are worthy favourites to progress to the qualifier series proper.
Carlow
Manager: Michael Walsh (third year).
Titles: Leinster none, All-Ireland none.
Last year: Lost Leinster first preliminary round to Meath 0-9 to 1-9.
NHL position: 6th Group Two, Division One.
Assessment: Carlow's young side upset the applecart with an assured win over Meath. Have shown glimpses of flair but won't be fancied to get further.
