Munster Hurling Championship
Clare Team
Brian Lohan is currently in his fifth year as the manager. Clare has managed to give Limerick a tough time over the last couple of years and even ranked first in Munster during this period. However, they have neither claimed the provincial title, nor have they been able to carry their successful performance into the Croke Park championship. Under Lohan’s management, Clare has kept up this consistency and recently bagged their fifth national league title while rectifying their disappointing track record against Kilkenny. The team’s potential for growth is evident in the anticipated return of Tony Kelly from a long-term injury and Shane O’Donnell rejoining the team.
Their most commendable championship performance recently was a comeback after a dismal first round against Tipperary, where they managed to defeat Limerick- a top-ranking team that had not lost a Championship match in four years. This victory put Clare at the top of the group.
However, their desire to return to Croke Park since 2013 seems to have been overshadowed by their subpar performance on home ground over the last two seasons. Despite this, aiming to make it to the All-Ireland finals seems to be their number one priority.
Clare’s upcoming schedule includes — Round 1 against Limerick at Cusack Park on April 21st; Round 2 against Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on April 28th; Round 4 against Waterford at Cusack Park on May 19th; Round 5 against Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium on May 26th.
Cork Team
Under the supervision of Pat Ryan, the team’s manager for the second year.
The Cork squad received sympathy in the previous season due to a close miss in qualifications, experiencing two marginal losses and having a superior scoring ratio to Limerick. The period was indifferent till Alan Connolly, a former under-20 player, undertook a trio of consecutive hat-tricks, adding a fresh twist to an occasionally mundane offence. Although Mark Coleman has made a return from an injury, the defence still needs polishing. Last season forms a solid foundation to build upon, yet there’s a limit to the number of tight losses that can be attributed to bad luck.
They had their most impressive championship performance in May last year at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, which was unfortunately mirrored by Limerick. Nicky English appreciated the game, conceding it to be one of the best he’s observed, despite Cork’s heart-wrenching loss by a margin of just one point.
The aim for a successful season is to secure provincial qualifications, disrupt the Limerick-Clare duopoly, aim for a Munster final and push towards the All-Ireland semi-finals.
The following are their scheduled matches: Rd 1 v Waterford at Walsh Park, on April 21st; Rd 2 v Clare at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, on April 28th; Rd 3 v Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, on May 11th; Rd 3 v Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium, on May 19th.
In contrast, Limerick’s manager, John Kiely, in his 8th year, has constructed the team’s supremacy on remarkable regularity and the capacity to survive weak periods and prime for Croke Park. One additional refinement will establish them as the finest team in the history of the game. The daunting task has been handled by performance coach Caroline Currid, who is currently absent. The league semi-final against Kilkenny made for uncomfortable viewing and some players are still accommodating after injuries while Darragh O’Donovan will be absent for some time. Despite diverse challenges over the past six years, they have successfully overcome all obstacles.
Highlighting impressive championship performances in recent history: The 2023 All-Ireland final showcased grit and prowess, with an initial struggle in the opening half against the wind, falling behind Kilkenny by a five-point deficit at the 42-minute mark. However, a spectacular turnaround of 14 points then ensued, enabling the champions to claim victory with a nine-point lead.
What constitutes a successful season? This phrase isn’t uttered too often, but achieving a five-win streak does the trick.
Considering their upcoming fixtures: They’ll be battling it out first against Clare at Cusack Park on April 21st, then against Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds on April 28th, followed by Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on May 11th, and finally Waterford at TUS Gaelic Grounds on May 26th.
Managerial Details for Tipperary: Guided by 2nd-Year Manager Liam Cahill, Tipperary’s inaugural season under Cahill witnessed a surge in performance, but unfortunately culminated in two crushing defeats – a surprise exit at the hands of Waterford in Munster and another one at the All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway. Despite a promising start to the season, subsequent performances dwindled, resulting in a final thrashing by Clare in the league semi-finals. Players like Jake Morris and Jason Forde maintain their status as top-notch forwards despite recent team-wide mishaps in free-kick scoring, especially during their match against Clare. The team boasts of notable talent, but uncertainty continues to loom regarding the positioning of the goalkeeper and the centre back. While their league performance cannot be the sole gauge of their potential, increasing stakes necessitate better play.
Recent Championship Showcase: The kick-off match against Clare in the previous season where they emerged victorious could be viewed as a commendable performance, but the draw against Limerick marked a game-changing moment. Even with the pressure to level the scores, Tipp proved to be the superior side.
What defines a good season? Striking a balance with the team has proven to be a challenge, with strong starts invariably leading to lacklustre ends in recent years. Getting to the Munster final and advancing to the All-Ireland semi-final will indeed denote a successful season.
Their future fixtures: Their first face-off is against Limerick at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on April 28th, followed by Waterford at Walsh Park on May 4th, Cork at the FBD Semple Stadium on May 19th and lastly Clare at the FBD Semple Stadium on May 26th.
The Leadership in Waterford: Under the helm of David Fitzgerald in his second year as manager.
Despite facing a series of injuries during the league matches, Waterford still put up quite a fight, even coming close to defeating the eventual champions, Clare. Even though they missed the mark for a place in next year’s Division One, they are in a promising state with the return of Conor Prunty and Tadgh de Búrca strengthening the defence. Recall last year’s opening weekend, their intense aggression against Limerick nearly paid off and a similar level of intensity can be anticipated this season. As David Fitzgerald asserted during the league that his prowess should be evaluated on the Cork match, he now stands on the cusp of judgement day.
When it comes to recent performance in the championship, Waterford’s performance has been disheartening in the four years of round-robin format, with two wins and one tie in 16 games. These successes were all achieved against Tipp. Last year, they lost their opening three bouts with growing margin yet managed to defeat Tipperary in the end, denying them a place in the Munster final.
For this season, qualifying for a top-three position in Munster for the first time in five attempts would define a successful season. Their upcoming fixtures include matches against Cork, Tipperary, Clare, and Limerick.
In the Leinster Hurling Championship, Antrim led by Manager Darren Gleeson who is in his fifth season, making him the longest-serving manager in the Leinster SHC. They managed to secure three points last season from the provincial campaign. Nonetheless, they have had their struggles in this season’s league, losing all five of their games in Division 1B.
In the recent championship, the highlight was their 2023 Leinster round-robin victory over Westmeath with a score of 4-24 to 1-19. Westmeath had a prior win over Wexford but was shocked by Antrim’s impressive performance. This win safeguarded Antrim’s position in the tournament while relegating the Lake County.
A successful campaign for Antrim involves eluding the threat of demotion to the Joe McDonagh Cup. The team is on a mission to prevent concluding the Leinster SHC in the dreaded last place, as the team finishing in the sixth position after the round-robin stage faces relegation to hurling’s secondary division for 2025.
Their list of matches are as follows: First round against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park, April 21. The Second round against Wexford takes place at Corrigan Park on April 27. They face Dublin at Parnell Park for Round 3 on May 11. Round 4 is against Galway at Corrigan Park on May 18. Finally, Round 5 against Carlow at Corrigan Park on May 26.
In a separate case, Carlow, managed by Tom Mullally in his fourth season, suffered a defeat to Laois in the Division 2A final despite enjoying a strong performance in the stage round, securing wins in four out of five matches. This performance was sufficient to place Carlow at the top of the division and guarantee their participation in Division 1B in 2025. However, after losing to Laois in the league, Carlow faces the daunting task of preserving its status in the Leinster SHC.
Their recent victory over Offaly in the 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup final, where they won 2-29 to 1-31, remains their best performance of the championship. Led by Martin Kavanagh’s 1-8, Carlow clinched the victory in this epic contest at Croke Park.
Carlow’s goal for the season is to avoid dropping down to the Joe McDonagh Cup. Their fight to stay out of the bottom spot in the round-robin series may be determined by their match with Antrim in Belfast at the end of May.
Their upcoming fixtures are: Round 1 against Galway at Pearse Stadium on April 21; Round 2 against Dublin at Netwatch Cullen Park on April 27; Round 3 against Kilkenny at Netwatch Cullen Park on May 11; Round 4 against Wexford at Netwatch Cullen Park on May 19; and finally, Round 5 against Antrim at Corrigan Park on May 26.
Within his second year as manager, Micheál Donoghue’s tenure at Dublin’s helm has been far from spectacular. The need to inspire their provincial championship campaign this season is crucial. Their track record for the National League displays a mere two victories – defeating Antrim and Westmeath. As they head into the championship, the comeback of set-piece master Donal Burke, after a protracted hamstring injury, provides a significant lift.
Prize recent tournament performance: a 2023 Leinster round-robin triumph over Wexford, 1-22 to 0-23. In injury time, Donal Burke netted two free kicks securing a third-round success over Wexford at Croke Park last May – nearly confirming Dublin’s position in the leading three league spots.
What would signify a satisfactory campaign? If Dublin could bag a Leinster title, it would be a monumental accomplishment. Beyond the province, their peak ambition would be to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Their fixture schedule is as follows: Rd 1 v Wexford at Wexford Park on 21st April; Rd 2 v Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park on 27th April: Rd 3 v Antrim at Parnell Park on 11th May; Rd 4 v Kilkenny at Parnell Park on 18th May; Rd 5 v Galway at Pearse Stadium on 26th May.
Transitioning to Galway, now in his third year as manager, Henry Shefflin is feeling the heat to usher some trophies home to the west, having suffered consecutive Leinster finals losses while steering the ship. In 2022 and 2023, Galway’s endeavours for the Liam MacCarthy trophy concluded at the All-Ireland semi-finals stage. Johnny Glynn will join the team for the championship, bringing noticeable aerial strength.
Celebrate recent tournament performance: a 2023 All-Ireland quarter-final victory over Tipperary, 1-20 o 1-18. It may not have been an unforgettable showdown at the Gaelic Grounds, yet Galway exhibited sheer resilience to fend off a Tipp resurgence and secure a semi-final slot.
What is considered a successful season? Of course, within the locker room, the native ambition would be securing the All-Ireland championship, however, obtaining a Leinster title and reaching the All-Ireland finals would serve as quite a satisfactory summer performance for Galway.
Their match schedule is as follows: The first round against Carlow at Pearse Stadium on the 21st of April, followed by the second round against Kilkenny on the 28th of April at the same venue. The third round is planned against Wexford in Wexford Park on May 4th, the fourth round against Antrim at Corrigan Park on May 18th and the final round against Dublin at Pearse Stadium on May 26th.
Now, let’s talk about Kilkenny: Under the management of Derek Lyng who has entered his second year, the Kilkenny hurlers saw a significant transition when Lyng decided to take up the managerial role after Brian Cody in August 2022. He deserves recognition for maintaining the team’s peak performance, albeit the All-Ireland championship remains elusive – the ultimate measure of success for Kilkenny teams. This year’s tournament will be a challenge due to injuries among key players including TJ Reid and Walter Walsh, but Kilkenny is still seen as the team to conquer in Leinster.
Their finest recent performance in the championship was in the 2023 All-Ireland semi-final where they triumphed over Clare, scoring 1-25 to 1-22. Eoin Murphy made a spectacular last-minute save, with TJ Reid contributing 0-12, helping Kilkenny secure their place in the All-Ireland final.
What constitutes a successful season for Kilkenny? Their performance in the last two All-Ireland senior hurling finals fell short, therefore the only substantial evidence of progress for the Cats in 2024 is them lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup through the streets of the Marble City come July.
Their match rundown is as follows: Round 1 versus Antrim at Nowlan Park on April 21st, Round 2 against Galway at Pearse Stadium on April 28th. The third round is set against Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park on May 11th. The penultimate round is against Dublin at Parnell Park on May 18th and the final round is set against Wexford at Nowlan Park on May 26th.
Lastly, Wexford is under the new management of Keith Rossiter, who is in his inaugural season.
Rossiter, a former Wexford hurler, has made an optimistic beginning in his role as the leader of his home county’s team. Guiding them to a commendable fourth position in Division 1A of the league, he ensured top-tier status for Wexford in 2025. The team went unbeaten in the initial four matches of their campaign, overcoming Waterford and sharing honours with Kilkenny, Offaly, and Clare. They are relying on the fitness of Lee Chin for the upcoming championship.
One of their standout performances in recent times was their victorious 2023 Leinster round-robin match against Kilkenny where the score was 4-23 to 5-18. The thrilling encounter at Wexford Park saw the hosts put on quite a show, allowing them to escape demotion from the Liam MacCarthy a week after suffering a loss to Westmeath, one of their most disappointing displays in many years.
A good season for them would involve securing a spot amongst the top three in the Leinster SHC. The results of the curtain-raiser against Dublin stand to play a significant role in Wexford’s chances of making it past provincial limits in the upcoming summer.
As for their fixture list, it reads as follows; Round 1 against Dublin at Wexford Park on April 21st; Round 2 against Antrim at Corrigan Park on April 27th; Round 3 against Galway at Wexford Park on May 4th; Round 4 against Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park on May 19th; and lastly, Round 5 against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park on May 26th.