Liam Sheedy’s county-by-county rundown on the Liam MacCarthy contenders
LIAM MACCARTHY CONTENDERS: Cork and Limerick to top Munster while Kilkenny a step ahead of the rest in Leinster. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Found a way to climb the 2024 summit so Brian Lohan knows the route. Have the best record since the round robin’s introduction which speaks volumes. Ryan Taylor’s energy back in the middle third is a big plus. Can Tony Kelly pick up where he left off in the All-Ireland Final? Blighted with injuries through the league but Lohan will fancy his best 15 against anyone. Cork can expect a siege mentality Sunday and I don’t envisage a scoreline similar to March 9.
Not as effective without Shane O’Donnell whose touch, vision and finishing are irreplaceable. A travesty for us all if we don’t see his brilliance this year. Some of their warriors are a year older and will need their structure and gameplan spot on to cope with the pace among some of their opposition.
The form team. Pace and power off the charts. Play with three up all the time and their exceptional movement gets the ball in hand. The younger lads just want to take you on, reflected in their goals tally. Spine and defence is very strong and energy in the middle third and up top when they don’t have the ball has been impressive. They have strong options and variations on their own puckout and now seem to have mastered defending the opposition’s. Bench didn’t deliver in the league final, but Pat Ryan’s post-match interview suggested that will have been addressed.
Hype beyond high when you consider they haven’t won the big prize in 20 years. To be favourites before a ball is pucked considering their famine must have opponents licking their lips. Supporters are at one with the team but dealing with that pressure will take navigating. They have a target on their backs and their resolve will be fully tested.
Big plus for John Kiely in a lacklustre league was the form of Cathal O’Neill, Adam English and Shane O’Brien. All showed they are ready to make a significant championship impact and have all the attributes the modern game requires. This should put the tried and trusted on their toes. Internal games over the last four weeks will have been serious. No better fuel for performance than hurt and Limerick will use it to their full advantage. The group has a burning desire to climb the Hogan steps again and that starts this weekend.
A generational group have had an incredible seven years. But it’s less about time than mileage. League form this year was below expectation given their strength in depth. Shane Dowling and Jason Gillane are strong options but Nickie Quaid is irreplaceable for his all-round contribution. We haven’t seen Mr Consistency Dan Morrissey in 2025. He would leave a void on the the edge of the square.
Exceeded expectation in the league. Liam Cahill has a fairly settled team that looks physically in very good shape. Seemed flat in Cork but maybe six rounds took their toll. I expect to see them firing on all cylinders this weekend. Mikey Breen and Robert Doyle have had great campaigns and the final form of Jason Forde will be a boost. Half-forward line has shown flashes of form and will need to in Munster. Bench impact was good in the league final so competition for a start has increased. The group will be hugely disappointed with how last year played out so won’t lack motivation.
Will have regrets over the 13-minute spell in the league final where they coughed up three goals, two off turnovers. The likes of Limerick and Cork will fully exploit any repeat. Struggled too to get hands on their own puckouts and allowed Patrick Collins pick out his men way too easily. Expect a more intense approach in both areas. Too many players lost their individual battles in Cork. Will need to rediscover goal threat too.
Accomplished first aim for year in return to top league tier. Have one of the best forwards in the game in Stephen Bennett. Sean Walsh impressed me and has the attributes to bed in at the top level. Jamie Barron is playing the deep 11 to great effect and will take minding as he gets on the world of ball and brings players into the game. Dessie has a class first touch. Get him the ball near goal for green flags.
League final tail-off will be a concern. Did their energy levels deplete? Couldn’t get hands on the ball and errors and turnovers were not what you expect from them. Struggled to deal with high ball into the square so getting Conor Prunty’s physical presence back will have a settling effect. Were very individual up front at times in the league and will need to play as a team to chart a path through Munster. No sign of Aussie yet and they will need all their big guns. Peter Queally will be delighted to get the extra week to recover but will need to hit the ground running as Clare will have a game under their belts.
On all known form, Cork and Limerick top the rankings. Have strength in depth and the pace and power to take on the climb. Nobody will be genuflecting in front of them though. Brace yourself for a cracking few weeks where the big winner is the wonderful game of hurling.
This group have delivered some exceptional outcomes in front of their own fans in Corrigan Park, the standout when they took down Wexford last year. Only have two games at home against Kilkenny and Dublin so will need to be at the peak of their powers. Paddy Burke has been a tremendous defender for them and Eoghan Campbell has done very well at 6. In Keelan Molloy and James McNaughton they have top-class forwards and Seaan Elliot is coming of age. Will need these lads firing on all cylinders.
Below par when I watched them play Waterford and Offaly in the league. But Davy will only have had the Leinster championship in his head as he was always going to be safe. He has given away little in terms of his gamplan. But there must be more options in the locker than we’ve seen so far. Brought Waterford from massive underdogs to turn over Cork last year so what has he up his sleeve? The loss of Conal Cunning is a serious dent and I am not sure Davy has the depth to replace players of his calibre.
Impressive start to the league and everything looked to be going well until narrowly losing to Offaly. Missing out on promotion is a blow but Niall knows if he makes the top 3, that will be forgotten. If Conor Burke can maintain exceptional league form that’s a great platform. They are physically in great shape and have bolstered the squad which ensures competition for places is hot. Had 11 scorers against Carlow when they clocked up 2-29. Start with home games against Offaly and Wexford so have got to deliver quickly. Four points would set them up. Na Fianna’s All-Ireland should positively shift the mindset of the manager and the group. Revenge on the Faithful Saturday will get them out of the blocks fast.
Will reflect on their discipline as red cards cost them their two defeats and ultimately promotion. Have the potential to consistently score between 25 and 30 points, but will need to tighten up as a defence — conceding 3-17 to Carlow is a concern. Kilkenny have had their measure for the last few years. If this group can get on the right side of the round 4 contest, it would work wonders for their confidence.
Capable on their day of taking down any team in the country. Have no shortage of talented hurlers but getting the mix right often proves elusive. Cathal Mannion back is a huge plus and a fit Daithí Burke would make a huge difference. I liked Declan McLoughlin when he came on against Cork so it will be interesting to see if he can make the starting 15.
Have too often produced lacklustre performances. Away games in Nowlan Park and Tullamore will test resolve to the full. On pitch leadership is required for any team to succeed and Micheál will need his players, who are talented individually, to really step up and lead the line. Non qualification last year was a big dent in this group’s morale, so they need to channel that hurt heading into the lion’s den Saturday.
I have huge admiration for the way they always show up and die with their boots on. Five Leinsters in a row and at half-time last year looked like they were heading back to a third All-Ireland final in a row. Huw Lawlor is massive for them and solidifies the defensive unit, while Mikey Carey back is a big plus. Martin Keoghan’s form has been exceptional in the league. Back that up with Eoin Cody, John Donnelly, TJ, a fit Adrian Mullen and Billy Ryan – not bad eh!
Despite their competitiveness they are now 10 years and counting since lifting Liam MacCarthy. A famine for them. Being competitive won't cut it and with time running out for TJ they will need to conjure one almighty onslaught in their quest to climb the summit. Hard to see it happen unless they can settle on a 6 who can dominate the play and improve their options when it comes to retaining and setting up attacks with their own puckouts. The day of pucking everything down on three paws in the half-forward line is gone. They will get it back with interest.
Have done incredibly well in recent years to rejoin the Liam MacCarthy and now secure Division 1A status. The spirit in the group and the connection with their people is of the highest order. Hurling is the big winner when Offaly are dining at the top table. Oisín Kelly and especially Brian Duignan have been exceptional throughout the league and would make any forward line in the country on current form.
Noticeable watching the league final that Offaly physically were no match for Waterford and struggled on the 50:50 battles. They remain a work in progress but it will be difficult as they enter an arena where players are fully developed over the last few years. Will need to move the ball at pace. If they are with anybody going down the home straight that Faithful spirit will be hard to turn over.
Keith Rossiter’s men had a challenging league on the back of injuries and retirements. But turning over Clare and Limerick away from home gives them something to build on. Their guard will be well up on Antrim after last season and getting off the ground with a home win would set them up nicely for a trip to Parnell Park. Despite the retirements, if they can get all their players on the pitch they are very capable.
Depth in their panel has depleted. Have delivered exceptional performances against the likes of Kilkenny, Galway and Dublin but have fallen to the Antrims and the Westmeaths which has cost them dearly. Consistency of performance will be a mantra this year. Still too reliant on Lee Chin. A fit and disciplined Rory O’Connor is a quality support act. And likes of Seamus Casey showed flashes of league form.
Kilkenny are a step ahead of the rest, with Dublin, Galway and Wexford fighting for two places. But whichever one of these three get into the Leinster final will relish the opportunity to chase down Bob O’Keeffe and stop six in a row.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
