Your County by County guide to Allianz Hurling League Division Two

ANTRIM:

A change of manager? No, Tipp hurling guru Dinny Cahill is still the man in charge, but he has brought former Clare midfield All-Ireland winner Ollie Baker on board with him.

How's the skipper chosen: Comes from the county champions, but Loughgiel Shamrocks are still involved in the club championship (play O'Loughlin Gaels of Kilkenny next weekend) so the position is vacant at the moment.

Anyone on injured reserve: Barry McFall, named in the subs this weekend but carrying an injury; also missing the Loughgiel players, including Ulster hurler-of-the-year Liam Watson.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: He’s been on the team for a couple of years now, but powerful full-back Cormac Donnelly is still only 22, and one to watch.

Fixtures: February 13th v Kerry (a); February 20th v Clare (h); March 6th v Laois (a); March 13th v Carlow (h); March 27th v Westmeath (a); April 3rd v Down (a); April 17th v Limerick (h).

Odds: 14/1

Did You Know: Though Antrim have won numerous national titles at secondary level (intermediate, junior, Christy Ring, National League division 2), their only premier grade title was won by Loughgiel Shamrocks, in the club All-Ireland of 1983.

A successful League will be: Top four finish – even from this remove, a Clare/Limerick final looks most likely, but Antrim need to be there or thereabouts.

CARLOW:

A change of manager? No, Waterford native Kevin Ryan still at the helm, his third year of a very loose three-year term - no contract, all by way of gentleman’s agreement.

How's the skipper chosen: Management’s choice, went with joint captains this year, Paudie Keogh from county champions St. Mullins and Eddie Coady.

Anyone on injured reserve: Denis Murphy is long-term, cruciate, a huge loss; James Hickey, hopefully back halfway through season; otherwise just niggles.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: Alan McDonald, minor last year, is a livewire, could make it if he dedicates himself to it.

Fixtures: February 13th v Down (a); February 20th v Laois (a); March 6th v Kerry (h); March 13th v Antrim (a); March 27th v Limerick (h); April 2nd v Westmeath (h); April 17th v Clare (a).

Odds: 50/1

Did You Know: Laois great Tommy 'The Boy Wonder' Murphy from the GAA Team of the Millennium, is from the Graiguecullen club, originally based in Carlow - Graigue is on the opposite bank of the Barrow river to Carlow town.

A successful League will be: As for Antrim, top four, again to maintain progress.

CLARE:

A change of manager? No, Ger O'Loughlin in his second season, looking to progress this year.

How's the skipper chosen: By the management. Brian O'Connell had the armband for the last few seasons but he is now in Australia, replaced by Pat Vaughan, who happens to be from the county champions, Crusheen.

Anyone on injured reserve: A couple, Pat Vaughan particularly, but with the Fitzgibbon Cup, no-one can be sure who’s available – Caimin Morey, for example, was trying to juggle games with NUIG and with Clare through January.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: The mercurial Darach Honan, of course, but also Conor McGrath – came on as a minor when Clare won the

U-21 All-Ireland, still only 19, definitely going to be a star.

Fixtures: February 13th v Limerick (h); February 20th v Antrim (a); March 6th v Westmeath (a); March 13th v Down (h); March 26th v Kerry (h); April 2nd v Laois (a); April 17th v Carlow (h).

Odds: 9/10 – odds-on favourites.

Did You Know: Changing times in Clare hurling, two first-time winners of the county championship in the last two years (Cratloe and Crusheen), two winners before that who hadn't done it for over 50 years (Clonlara in 1919, Tulla in 1933).

A successful League will be: Top two, then win the playoff game and promotion.

DOWN:

A change of manager? No, Gerard Honan begins his third year in charge.

How's the skipper chosen: By the management, Paul Braniff the man to lead them this year.

Anyone on injured reserve: Paul Braniff, but expected back by round three.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: Corner-forward Danny Toner, scorer of 2-1 recently in the Kehoe Cup against DCU.

Fixtures: February 13th v Carlow (h); February 20th v Kerry (a); March 6th v Limerick (h); February 13th v Clare (a); March 27th v Laois (h); April 3rd v Antrim (h); April 17th v Westmeath (a).

Odds: 100/1

Did You Know: Long before the current experiment, Down played in the Leinster championship, three years at minor in the 70s along with Antrim, whom they met in the Leinster semi-final of 1979.

A successful League will be: There was a time when Down would have had legitimate ambitions to win division 2 (they did, in 2004), but this year, survival would be acceptable.

KERRY:

A change of manager? No chance, not when John Meyler got them to where they are this year, promoted from division 3 and within a whisker of winning the Christy Ring last year.

How’s the skipper chosen: Nominated by the county champions, and Ballyduff have gone for the experienced Michael Boyle.

Anyone on injured reserve: Shane Brick (their marquee players), John Fitzgerald and Colm Harty will likely miss all the league, but there are hopes they’ll be back for the Christy Ring.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: Darragh O’Connell, came on the scene last year, free-taker supreme, but could make bigger waves this year.

Fixtures: February 13th v Antrim (h); February 20th v Down (h); March 6th v Carlow (a); March 12th v Westmeath (h); March 26th v Clare (a); April 3rd v Limerick (a); April 17th v Laois (h).

Odds: 100/1

Did You Know: Kerry won an All-Ireland senior hurling title (1891, a composite team based around Ballyduff) before they won a football (1903).

A successful League will be: Consolidation in their new division, a finish above the relegation area.

LAOIS:

A change of manager? Yes, Niall Rigney resigned at the end of last year’s championship, replaced by Brendan Fennelly, of the famous Ballyhale Shamrocks clan.

How's the skipper chosen: By the management team, and they’ve gone with James Walsh.

Anyone on injured reserve: No-one with anything major, but the curse of emigration has hit, several players from last year’s panel gone abroad.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: John Brophy, a corner-forward, gone out of U-21, can take another step forward this year.

Fixtures: February 13th v Westmeath (a); February 20th v Carlow (h); March 6th v Antrim (h); March 13th v Limerick (a); March 27th v Down (a); April 2nd v Clare (h); April 17th v Kerry (a).

Odds: 25/1

Did You Know: According to the Museum Of Learning, when Laois won their only All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1915, coming from behind to beat Cork, ‘A huge downpour resulted in the players donning their overcoats for the second half’ – beat that!

A successful League will be: Pushing Clare and Limerick for one of the crucial top-two playoff places; after that, anything can happen.

LIMERICK:

A change of manager? Yes, Justin McCarthy finally saw the light, left, replaced by former Cork All-Ireland winner (as player and manager) Donal O'Grady, on a one-year deal.

How's the skipper chosen: Nominated by the county champions, Kilmallock, and they’ve gone with Gavin O’Mahony, a natural leader anyway.

Anyone on injured reserve: The afore-mentioned Gavin O'Mahony, Tom Condon and Brian Geary, but Brian will be back sooner rather than later.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: Kevin Downes gets his chance this weekend, but watch too for his erstwhile Árd Scoil Rís teammate Declan Hannon.

Fixtures: February 13th v Clare (a); February 19th v Westmeath (h); March 6th v Down (a); March 13th v Laois (h); March 27th v Carlow (a); April 3rd v Kerry (h); April 17th v Antrim (a).

Odds: 11/8, second favourites behind Clare.

Did You Know: You want a fabled five-in-a-row? That was Mick Mackey-powered Limerick in the league, from 1933/34 to 1937/38, inclusive.

A successful League will be: Top two playoff spot and subsequent win and promotion might be asking a bit much, but it’s possible.

WESTMEATH:

A change of manager? No, former Offaly All-Ireland winner Kevin Martin remains at the helm, on a yearly contract.

How's the skipper chosen: Manager’s choice, and he has gone with Brian Smith this year, who is actually from county champions Raharney – shows great commitment, travels back from London every Friday.

Anyone on injured reserve: Joe Clarke, Stephen Barden, Adam Price all out at the moment, Paddy Dowdall out for the year with family commitments, as is Conor Jordan, gone to the footballers.

Who's the young bolter to keep an eye on: Christopher Flanagan

(Raharney) is starting in midfield this weekend, showing good form.

Fixtures: February 13th v Laois (h); February 19th v Limerick (a); March 6th v Clare (h); March 12th v Kerry (a); March 27th v Antrim (h); April 2nd v Carlow (a); April 17th v Down (h).

Odds: 80/1

Did You Know: Bull McCabe may be a fictional John B Keane character, but he did exist – Brian ‘Bull’ McCabe was a ferocious Westmeath hurling defender from the 80s, emigrated to New York where he continued his hurling heroics.

A successful League will be: Westmeath are Christy Ring champions, but second division league is far more powerful than second division championship – top half of the table will do, and top two a definite bonus.