The 2024 GAA Championship really begins this Sunday when the Munster and Leinster round robins get underway. Unlike the protracted football Championship, the hurling round robins promise fireworks from the off, and the next five weeks promise to be most enthralling few weeks on the intercounty calendar.
The Allianz Hurling Leagues are something of a phoney war but there are obviously big learnings for every intercounty manager heading into the Championship.
Here, we've graded the 2024 season so far for each of the 11 counties in the two provincial round robins, and where we think each county will finish in their respective competitions.
Munster
Clare - A
25 February 2024; Clare players, from left, John Conlon, Adam Hogan and Conor Leen contest a high ball with Wexford's Séamus Casey, hidden, during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Wexford and Clare at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Brian Lohan might not be the most bubbly character in hurling, but the legendary defender will be delighted with Clare's form heading into the Sunday's all-important Munster curtainraiser. Silverware was secured with Tony Kelly while Clare blooded in new players like Conor Leen and Keith Smyth. Two wins over Kilkenny this year will give Lohan the confidence that the Banner is the county most likely county to derail the Drive for 5. They'll have the momentum, and the home advantage on Sunday. Their best hope of an All-Ireland involves Limerick falling in Munster, making a victory on Sunday massively important.
Prediction for Munster - 1st
Limerick - B+
23 July 2023; The Limerick team stand together for the national anthem ahead of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Up until a shock defeat to Kilkenny the league semifinal to Kilkenny, the All-Ireland champions would be very happy with their season to date. Since that loss, John Kiely and his troops have enjoyed a few weeks off, plus a warm weather training camp to masterplan their way to a historic five in a row. With Sean Finn and Declan Hannon back, and Kyle Hayes's availability confirmed, Limerick remain the pre-eminent force in hurling, though a defeat on Ennis on Sunday would make things interesting. All-Star Darragh O'Donovan's injury absence will be felt.
Prediction for Munster - 2nd
Tipperary - C+
9 March 2024; Tipperary players before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Limerick and Tipperary at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
It's hard to say what to make of Tipp if you think about it. They haven’t shown up in their last three must-win games, losing to an already eliminated Waterford in Munster to book a place in the final, Galway in the All-Ireland quarter-final, and Clare in the League. They were impressive in some games, like against Galway, and you would expect them to beat Antrim, Dublin, and Westmeath, so I say Liam Cahill has more problems than answers after this campaign. Seamus Kennedy is a huge loss.
Prediction for Munster -4th
Cork - C-
16 March 2024; Cork players stand during the National Anthem before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Wexford and Cork at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Pat Ryan might be playing it down that the Rebels weren’t concerned about what division they were in next year, but Cork needs silverware, and not making it to the semi-finals, at least, is poor. They might be perfectly timing their run for Championship, but they still have to settle on a few positions, and why wasn’t Ben Cunningham given any minutes is a mystery to me.
Prediction for Munster - 3rd
Waterford - F
16 March 2024; Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald leaves the team huddle before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Waterford and Kilkenny at Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Relegated to Division 1B, which let's call a spade a spade, won't attract the glamour ties the Waterford County board want if they want to make some cash off the new Walsh Park. Since Davy Fitz’s return, they have only beaten Antrim (just about thanks to a penalty miss), Laois and Offaly in the League. They did show sparks against Cork and Wexford, and Davy keeps telling us who they are missing. Hopefully, their warm weather training gave the All-Ireland winner some tactical inspiration.
Prediction for Munster - 5th
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Leinster
Kilkenny - B+
4 February 2024; Kilkenny goalkeeper Amhrán na bhFiann stands for Amhrán na bhFiann before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Kilkenny and Wexford at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Derek Lyng hasn’t experienced second-season syndrome yet. They might not have been impressive in every game in the League, but like any Kilkenny team, they are getting the job done. Yes they were defeated in the League final but Kilkenny will be confident they'll have a massive say in the outcome of this year's Senior Hurling Championship.
Prediction: 1st
Galway - C
11 February 2024; Conor Whelan of Galway leads his side out for the second-half of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Tipperary and Galway at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Like Cork, Henry Shefflin and the Tribesmen need silverware. In the League, they were disappointing against Tipperary and should have done better against a Limerick side that played with 14 men for most of the game. Shefflin has confirmed that Johnny Glynn is in the squad - is he the answer to all their problems?
Prediction: 2nd
Wexford - B+
25 February 2024; Wexford players huddle before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A match between Wexford and Clare at Chadwicks Wexford Park in Wexford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
A strong League on the whole for Keith Rossiter. If Wexford had managed to beat Offaly instead of drawing, there was the real possibility of a league final. With 1A hurling secured, they didn’t show up against Cork but were very impressive against Kilkenny and Waterford, with the likes of Seamus Casey getting game time. If Keith Rossiter can get all his key men back, they could be dark horses for a Leinster final.
Prediction: 3rd
Dublin - D-
11 February 2024; John Bellew of Dublin before the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Antrim and Dublin at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
It was a far from impressive League campaign for Dublin. There were no-shows against Limerick and Tipp. They were lucky to beat Antrim and finished the campaign with only one impressive performance, against Westmeath. The only plus side is Donal Burke is back.
Prediction 4th
Carlow - B-
17 June 2023; Chris Nolan of Carlow during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Preliminary Quarter Final match between Carlow and Dublin at Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
A strong start in 2A but there were two defeats to wrap up the campaign, as promotion was secure. The Leinster round robin will be a big step and they'll be targeting the match against Antrim.
Prediction 6th
Antrim - C-
11 February 2024; Rory McCloskey of Antrim in action against James Madden of Dublin during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group B match between Antrim and Dublin at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
With such a depleted squad compared to last year, Darren Gleeson had one hand tied behind his back this year, especially with only 21 lads togged off against Westmeath. At least the Tipp man can recall the Dunloy boys for the Championship.
Prediction: 5th
