PREDICTIONS: Who will come out on top in Division 1A?
CORK
Kieran Kingston (1st season)
Stephen McDonnell (1st season)
Much like the footballers, performances are the priority, not exactly results although avoiding a relegation play-off will be a must
We don’t expect to see a style manifest itself just yet but Cork can’t afford to be muddled between tactics as they were midway through last year’s championship
Cathal Cormack, William Leahy
Aidan Walsh
Flattering
Pat Horgan (2-80)
Feb 14: v Galway (a); Feb 20: v Waterford (h); Mar 5: v Dublin (a); Mar 12: v Kilkenny (h); Mar 20: v Cork (a)
Knockout stages (4th)
DUBLIN
Ger Cunningham (2nd season)
Peter Kelly/Liam Rushe (2nd season)
But for an awful finish to their semi-final against Cork last year, Dublin would have made the final. To make the last four with Cunningham having taken a broom to the group would be an achievement
Without established players like Michael Carton, Simon Lambert, and Danny Sutcliffe, Dublin are lacking experience and they also quite light in size. In heavy spring conditions, that may catch them out
Chris Bennett, Fionn Ó Riann Broin
Niall Corcoran, Ryan O’Dwyer, Peter Kelly, Paul Schutte
Satisfactory
David Treacy (0-35)
Feb 13: v Tipperary (a); Feb 20: v Galway (h); Mar 5: v Cork (h); Mar 13: v Waterford (a); Mar 20: v Kilkenny (a).
Relegation
GALWAY
Micheál Donoghue (1st season)
David Burke (1st season)
Results are the only way of distancing themselves from the controversy over the winter. At the same time, Donoghue will need a little room to experiment.
A run of defeats and there will be plenty on the players’ backs after their heave against Anthony Cunningham. Such negativity is the last thing Donoghue needs.
Shane Maloney, Conor Whelan
Conor Cooney, Dean Higgins
Dreary
Jason Flynn (0-29)
Feb 14: v Cork (h); Feb 21: v Dublin (a); Mar 6: v Kilkenny (a); Mar 13: v Tipperary (h); Mar 20: v Waterford (a).
Relegation play-off
KILKENNY
Brian Cody (18th season)
Shane Prendergast (1st season)
The knockout stages. They bridged the yawning gap between a relegation play-off and a Leinster semi-final last year but a repeat wouldn’t be welcome.
Defence and midfield options look fairly sound but the absence of Ger Aylward, Eoin Larkin, and Richie Power will impact on their attacking choices and any more injuries would cause an issue or two.
Robert Lennon, James Maher
Ger Aylward, Joe Lyng
Deceiving
Richie Hogan (1-43)
Feb 14: v Waterford (a); Feb 21: v Tipperary (h); Mar 6: v Galway (h); Mar 12: v Cork (a); Mar 20: v Dublin (h)
Champions (1st)
TIPPERARY
Michael Ryan (1st season)
Brendan Maher (3rd season)
A couple of bouts with Kilkenny would be welcome providing they win at least one. Were they to beat the Cats the weekend after next, it would be the first time they have managed back-to-back victories over the neighbours in league or championship since 2008.
Another poor start to the league and they could find themselves behind the eight ball going into March. Three home games should ensure they avoid too much trouble.
Kieran Bergin, Seamus Callanan, Sean Curran, Conor O’Brien.
Patchy
Seamus Callanan (3-45)
Feb 13: v Dublin (h); Feb 21: v Kilkenny (a); Mar 6: v Waterford (h); Mar 13: v Galway (a); Mar 20: v Cork (h)
Knockout stages (2nd)
WATERFORD
Derek McGrath (3rd season)
Kevin Moran (3rd season, 2nd consecutive)
Exam21032014GAA2KevinMoranWaterford_large.jpg/timg[]
They’ve already shown they can contend with and beat most of this top flight crop but a second successive spring full of promise would indicate they’re here to stick around.
That they will struggle now that the surprise element of last year is gone. Teams have had time to size up Waterford but then they will have anticipated that too.
Kieran Bennett, Patrick Curran
Stephen Bennett, Pauric Mahony, Tadhg de Burca
Terrific
Pauric Mahony (1-79)
Feb 14: v Kilkenny (a); Feb 20: v Cork (a); Mar 6: v Tipperary (a); Mar 13: v Dublin (h); Mar 20: v Galway (h).
Knockout stages (3rd)
