Over 14 months have passed since Seamus Callanan lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup as Tipperary won their 28th title with a resounding win over Kilkenny. We've now had a seven month interval for intercounty hurling and the championship kicks off with the Leinster quarter-final between Dublin and Laois. The old knockout format has returned this year and teams have the lifeline of the backdoor system.
Below are my power rankings for the 10 counties in this year's championship.
10. Laois
The O'Moore County shocked the hurling world by dumping Dublin out last year. Their Joe McDonagh triumph puts them back in the top tier and they meet Dublin again. It was Dublin who won 4-18 - 2-17 in February in the League but they'll be up for championship revenge and centre-forward Mark Kavanagh is a doubt which is a big blow. As is normally the case, the fifth Leinster side are the weakest.
9. Clare
It is forgotten that the Banner were much better than Galway in the 2018 semi-final replay and should have got to the final. That was two years ago and all those memories vanished after a poor 2019 campaign. They are without forwards Peter Duggan (out in Australia), John Conlon (cruciate injury) and Podge Collins is not on the panel. Midfielder Colm Galvin is nursing a groin injury and isn't playing so more weight falls on the shoulders of Tony Kelly. There are too many influential players missing.
8. Dublin
It is expected that Dublin will beat Laois not because they are a good side but because they are better than Laois. The progress under Mattie Kenny, beating Galway and drawing with Wexford, was undone by the Laois loss and they are many problems with their squad, seen by Chris Crummey, a natural back, likely to play in the forwards. They won't put up much of a fight against Kilkenny.
7. Waterford
Liam Cahill has had little time to implement his ideas into the Waterford players but it's clear his mind is made up on experienced All-Stars Noel Connors and Maurice Shanahan, who impressed for their clubs but did not receive a call-up to the panel. Captain and free-taker Pauric Mahony is out for the year with a knee injury if the task at hand wasn't difficult for Cahill before. The question will be can the likes of Austin Gleeson, Tadhg de Burca, Jamie Barron and co. get back to their 2016/17 levels? Not this year.
6. Cork
After Galway won in 2017, Patrick Horgan took over Joe Canning's mantle of the greatest to never win the All-Ireland. Everybody wants to see the legendary forward lift the trophy but it doesn't seem like it will be this year. Kieran Kingston is back as manager and only left in 2017, so he'll have a good understanding of the squad - more so than Liam Cahill or Shane O'Neill at Galway. Midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon is expected to miss the Waterford clash with a hamstring injury but they should still prove too strong for the Deise. Against one of Tipperary or Limerick in the Munster final, they'll be exposed.
5. Galway
It was a massive surprise when Galway finished 4th in Leinster last year and didn't progress to the All-Ireland series. Shane O'Neill, like Liam Cahill, is an outsider being from Limerick so he wouldn't have the same knowledge of the squad as a native. Galway have had some injury boosts with Fintan and Daithi Burke recovering from previous problems. Joe Canning also doesn't like yellow sliotars but the real issue is the lack of time O'Neill has had to get Galway playing his way. They won't be outclassed by anybody.
4. Wexford
Wexford have had serious issue with a Covid-19 outbreak in the camp and that will have an effect on their preparations. They buckled under the pressure against Tipperary in the semi-final and Davy Fitzgerald will know a great opportunity to win the All-Ireland was blown. With a full squad to choose from and as reigning Leinster champions, the game against Galway is the most exciting of the confirmed semis. It will be a tight encounter and I think Wexford will edge it. Fitzgerald has a talented panel but needs to make sure the mentality, both on and off the pitch, is in a good state.
3. Kilkenny
Brian Cody has a lot of exciting youngsters coming through and they reached the All-Ireland final maybe a year too quickly for them to be ready. Adrian Mullen never turned up in the final due to an illness but he may have returned from a cruciate injury in time for the championship, which is a positive for Cody. The elder statesmen of the squad such as TJ Reid (32) and Colin Fennelly (31) showed no signs of age for Ballyhale Shamrocks, playing a high level of hurling ready for the championship. The youngsters have another year of hurling under their belts and the shorter season will help the older players. The Cats will be a threat to anyone.
2. Limerick
When everybody is available, Limerick undoubtedly have the strongest fifteen in the country. They blew Tipperary away in the Munster final but didn't turn up against Kilkenny in the semi, irrespective of not getting the late 65. John Kiely has said the combination of the League final and the Munster quarter-final with Clare thus more silverware is "furthest thing from my mind" at the minute. What will be on his mind is dealing with the injuries to the half-back line, with Richie English and Mike Casey out. Replacing their quality will be impossible and may give the upper hand to other counties. The other thirteen, though, show why Limerick will still be there or thereabouts come December.
1. Tipperary
The last time Tipp retained the title was in 1965 but there is no talk of that this year, given the unprecedented circumstances. Liam Sheedy has added John Meagher to his panel giving an extra option in the backs and U20 starlet Jake Morris was in superb form for his club. Patrick "Bonner" Maher is back after a cruciate injury, improving their attack. The squad is settled and the depth on offer to Sheedy if the virus causes havoc is impressive. The expected Munster semi against Limerick will give a good indicator as to who will win.
The championship being played in the winter throws up another challenge to the counties. The pandemic could decimate squads if a major outbreak occurs but with the testing GAA has in place, hopefully everything can run smoothly. It's just great to have championship hurling back.
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