Na Fianna are not a week into their All Ireland senior hurling club reign and minds have already focused back into intercounty league fare. This page will look at the teams, managers and standings for what looks like an ultra competitive Allianz National Hurling League 1A season.
Clare
An epic 2024 for the men from the Banner. They secured the league and championship double. Brian Lohan used the league wisely last season to blood new faces into the setup who proved paramount in their successful year.
Conor Leen for instance got his opportunity for Clare in the league last year and never looked back. Brian Lohan looks poised to run the rule over the depth chart early in order to give several marquee players more time to recover and be fresh come championship time.
Clare entertain Kilkenny on the opening day of the campaign. The side all by accounts will consist of youth and experience to rub shoulders against a Kilkenny side who will be smarting from been defeated in their last three competitive fixtures against the Banner.
The sense is that Clare will be competitive in the league but not sufficiently to retain their crown. Relegation should not be an issue as Clare look to target Munster this season in particular.
Cork
A season of progress but a season of regret given the near miss in the All Ireland SHC final against Clare. A slow league campaign last season saw Cork on the back foot but Pat Ryan’s charges regrouped and delivered some key wins against the likes of Limerick and Wexford.
If you were looking for a side who need silverware success, then look no further than this Cork side. Pat Ryan and management team need to commit to the league. They saw how Clare grew in stature and confidence when they secured the league crown last year. This Cork side needs to strike now.
The pace and skill of Cork is there for all to see but can they defensively evolve in the key moments of the year. The league will provide some early indicators on how the Downey’s look to shape this Cork back line unit because from midfield onwards, they are a potent side. I would expect Cork to be a league finalist this year and start their campaign with a road trip against an understrength Wexford.
Galway
Michael O’Donoghue era part two has arrived. Henry Shefflin tried his hardness to get Galway over the line but last season was a massive disappointment. The side labored, no cohesion in their overall shape with a run game which failed to ignite. Shefflin can only accept some of the blame, the panel also did not deliver.
O’Donoghue has wasted little to make some hard calls. McInerney, Tuohy and Joseph Cooney dropped from the panel is a statement of intent in looking at the depth chart to unearth younger hurlers who have the potential to deliver. The three mentioned players owe nothing to the jersey and may be summoned back into the panel if the need arises.
Galway personally need a strong league campaign to boost confidence within the team and supporter base. Tipperary at home in Salthill is a key matchup. A win and Galway are setup for a good league campaign. A loss and Galway are looking over their shoulders at a relegation battle. Galway look poised to have a good campaign which should see a motivated, hungry Galway potentially a finalist of the league. Niland, Burke’s and Mannion’s need to be the fore here.
Kilkenny
Derek Lyng has looked to freshen Kilkenny up from a backroom standpoint but also has to contend with some key retirements. Walsh and Fogarty depart the intercounty scene owing nothing to the jersey with standout careers. The question here is who are the new leaders of this Kilkenny setup?
MacKessy has transferred from Kerry to Kilkenny. A strong club campaign for O’Loughlin Gaels last years see the player added to the panel. A player of versatility who can play in multiple lines. A strong man who will look to dominate under the dropping ball.
The issues for Kilkenny are in the forward line. Who can provide consistent support to the likes of TJ Reid, Eoin Cody, John Donnelly and Adrian Mullen? Consistency issues with several other forward players and this is something that needs to be addressed for Kilkenny to secure any silverware. Deegan as a half-forward option? It is going to be an interesting campaign for Kilkenny.
TJ Reid cannot last forever so the successor to the Reid crown needs to be made this year, otherwise Kilkenny may fall further behind in the pecking order. Expect Lyng to target the league and look to set a statement of intent early starting in Ennis where Kilkenny will feel that they need to address their recent head-to-head record against Clare.
Limerick
The all conquering Limerick of recent years have a point to prove this season. They reached the semi-final of league and championship last season but were undone by middle third pace.
John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk have lost the likes of Richie English and Graeme Mulcahy from the panel. This has been the cue to run the rule over several new debutantes to the panel where Shane O’Brien, Aidan O’Connor will be keen to secure valuable game minutes.
Nicky Quaid’s knee injury means a straight shootout for the goalkeeper jersey between Jason Gillane and recalled Shane Dowling. Both men are fine keepers and distributors of a sliothar. Quaid may feature late in the championship campaign but for now, it is between the two players to make the right statement early in the league.
A bye weekend for the opening round of the league but reality strikes with a visit to Pairc Ui Chaoimh to play Cork in round two. Limerick will look to the league to identify depth chart in multiple lines where half-back, full back line, midfield are areas where player injuries last year proved fatal for their driver for five.
Limerick’s will be competitive but you sense that Kiely and Kinnerk will look at the league to renew depth charts in multiple positions. If they reach a league final, then this is bonus territory.
Tipperary
Tipperary fans may not want to hear this but this feels like another tough year lies ahead. Who will the shoes of Patrick Bonnar Maher in the panel? Cathal Barrett dispensed by Liam Cahill as the likes of Barry Heffernan and Mark Kehoe do not feature.
Tipperary lacked physicality and drive in the middle third last season. Who is the designated half-back this season? O’Mara should be nailing down the position but it remains to be seen what Tipperary management have in mind for this season. Several underage prospects get their opportunity but senior intercounty is a big step up.
The senior players of the panel must lead by example. John and Noel McGrath need to orchestrate the forward line units. Ronan Maher’s position in the side remains questionable, pace issues exposed last term. Maher is a quality hurler but where is his position that will contribute most for the side? The Barrett exclusion means more pressure on Morgan to deliver and shore up a full back line unit who will be new in this league.
Galway away in the opening round looks a must win right now. Failure to win and this campaign could spiral. Tipperary are at times best when they are written off but I am not seeing any genuine green shoots of recovery this season. Cahill and Bevans may need to use this season to blood more underage talent into key positions for long-term success. Relegation threatened.
A promising opening year for Keith Rossiter as Wexford manager. All team personnel committed fully to the process which saw a good league campaign and an All Ireland quarter final cameo.
Resiliency shown in the championship after the Antrim loss. Wexford will have regrets that they were unable to get past Dublin for a provincial final.
Last season proved the final campaign for several marquee players. O’Keefe, Og McGovern and O’Hanlon have retired. Several other players key to the county’s success unavailable early including Lee Chin.
This feels like a league where squad depth charts will be fully understood by all connected with Wexford senior hurling management. Given how potent 1A will be, experimentation with new players comes with a health warning. Relegation candidates unfortunately given the squad personnel status right now.
Predictions
| League Finalists | Relegation |
| Cork, Kilkenny (Cork to win) | Wexford, Tipperary. |