WE’VE HAD THREE different winners of the Leinster championship in the last three years but Kilkenny enter 2015′s competition as the holders.
The loss of so many experienced players from last year’s team and their poor displays in the national league will give other sides plenty of encouragement that they can be the kings of Leinster in 2015.
Galway
They must be one of the most infuriating counties in the country to support. Having brought Kilkenny to an All-Ireland final replay in 2012, the only team they have managed to beat in championship hurling since is Laois.
In the league they earned a one-point win over a Clare side that was eventually relegated and saved themselves from a relegation play-off with a battling two-point win over the Cats in March.
Galway need a big summer from Jonathan Glynn. Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO
Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO / INPHO
As always they will be ultra-reliant on Joe Canning who must be itching for some form of silverware as he enters into his eighth season on the senior team. A Leinster championship medal is hardly just reward for a player of his talent. Canning is simply the difference between the likes of Galway and Wexford. Where the Model men can win big games when all 15 of their side play to full potential, Galway can rely on Canning to drag them past teams with his own individual brilliance.
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If the Tribesmen are going to make waves in Leinster this summer they need more than just their talismanic forward firing on all cylinders. Jonathan Glynn and Iarla Tannian are vital to the Galway cause but perhaps it would have served them better to meet a less competitive opponent than Dublin in their Leinster opener.
Dublin
It could be a big year for the Dubs. They had a fine league campaign that was ultimately brought to an end by their capitulation in the semi-final against Cork. Having led by nine points at half time they will still be sore about missing out on a league final berth but they must get it out of their system.
Liam Rushe’s placement at full-forward has been an unquestionable success. The St Patrick’s club-man is one of the most versatile players in the country but his move to the edge of the square has given the Dubs another option in there. The emergence of Cian O’Callaghan and Chris Crummey in the Dublin backline was another positive to take from the league. O’Callaghan has shown he is a fine man-marker and he could be detailed with marking Galway’s young livewire Jason Flynn on Sunday.
Cian O'Callaghan has had a consistent year so far. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Mark Schutte has emerged as one of the most talked about hurlers in the country. The 23-year-old is the most gifted of the Dublin forwards, claiming numerous man-of-the-match awards throughout the league and scoring 1-4 from play in the semi-final defeat to Cork. If Dublin are to go far this year, he will be their main threat.
I’d expect them to get past Galway on Sunday, and should they produce a bit more consistency than they did during the league, we could be looking at the Leinster champions.
Wexford
I would be much more optimistic about Wexford’s chances had Keith Rossiter not decided to call time on his county career in January at the age of just 31, but he had his mind made up well before then that he was going to go so perhaps his head wouldn’t have been in it this year had he continued on.
Andrew Shore's return boosts the Model men's defence. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
They are still blessed with fine defenders however. Liam Ryan was superb in their run to the All-Ireland quarter-final last year, and in his second season of championship hurling he should only improve. Matthew O’Hanlon provides stability at full-back while the overturning of Andrew Shore’s ban was a huge boost to their chances.
The full-forward line of Conor McDonald and Liam Óg McGovern is one of the most exciting in the country and along with Jack Guiney they will provide the main scoring threat. An opening round fixture against a highly competitive Westmeath will provide a stiffer challenge than many would expect, so if they see their way past them they should be well oiled to have a go at Kilkenny.
Offaly
It is hard to know who is better placed for taking on the winners of Dublin v Galway but Offaly managed a much more consistent run in the league than a Laois side that barely qualified for the Leinster championship after shipping 5-17 to an atrocious Antrim side in their Round 1 qualifier.
Shane Dooley is key to the Faithful's hopes. Cathal Noonan
Cathal Noonan
There was finally evidence of life in Offaly’s displays in this year’s league, and in Shane Dooley they possess a player that can reek havoc on defences such as that of Laois. Emmet Nolan’s strong displays at midfield also provide encouragement and victories such as their three-point win over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds must have galvanised their team spirit once again.
If they are to navigate their way past Laois in their opening game, they may well fancy themselves against either Dublin or Galway who are known for their patchy form.
The 4 teams looking to knock Kilkenny off their Leinster perch
WE’VE HAD THREE different winners of the Leinster championship in the last three years but Kilkenny enter 2015′s competition as the holders.
The loss of so many experienced players from last year’s team and their poor displays in the national league will give other sides plenty of encouragement that they can be the kings of Leinster in 2015.
Galway
They must be one of the most infuriating counties in the country to support. Having brought Kilkenny to an All-Ireland final replay in 2012, the only team they have managed to beat in championship hurling since is Laois.
In the league they earned a one-point win over a Clare side that was eventually relegated and saved themselves from a relegation play-off with a battling two-point win over the Cats in March.
As always they will be ultra-reliant on Joe Canning who must be itching for some form of silverware as he enters into his eighth season on the senior team. A Leinster championship medal is hardly just reward for a player of his talent. Canning is simply the difference between the likes of Galway and Wexford. Where the Model men can win big games when all 15 of their side play to full potential, Galway can rely on Canning to drag them past teams with his own individual brilliance.
If the Tribesmen are going to make waves in Leinster this summer they need more than just their talismanic forward firing on all cylinders. Jonathan Glynn and Iarla Tannian are vital to the Galway cause but perhaps it would have served them better to meet a less competitive opponent than Dublin in their Leinster opener.
Dublin
It could be a big year for the Dubs. They had a fine league campaign that was ultimately brought to an end by their capitulation in the semi-final against Cork. Having led by nine points at half time they will still be sore about missing out on a league final berth but they must get it out of their system.
Liam Rushe’s placement at full-forward has been an unquestionable success. The St Patrick’s club-man is one of the most versatile players in the country but his move to the edge of the square has given the Dubs another option in there. The emergence of Cian O’Callaghan and Chris Crummey in the Dublin backline was another positive to take from the league. O’Callaghan has shown he is a fine man-marker and he could be detailed with marking Galway’s young livewire Jason Flynn on Sunday.
Mark Schutte has emerged as one of the most talked about hurlers in the country. The 23-year-old is the most gifted of the Dublin forwards, claiming numerous man-of-the-match awards throughout the league and scoring 1-4 from play in the semi-final defeat to Cork. If Dublin are to go far this year, he will be their main threat.
I’d expect them to get past Galway on Sunday, and should they produce a bit more consistency than they did during the league, we could be looking at the Leinster champions.
Wexford
I would be much more optimistic about Wexford’s chances had Keith Rossiter not decided to call time on his county career in January at the age of just 31, but he had his mind made up well before then that he was going to go so perhaps his head wouldn’t have been in it this year had he continued on.
They are still blessed with fine defenders however. Liam Ryan was superb in their run to the All-Ireland quarter-final last year, and in his second season of championship hurling he should only improve. Matthew O’Hanlon provides stability at full-back while the overturning of Andrew Shore’s ban was a huge boost to their chances.
The full-forward line of Conor McDonald and Liam Óg McGovern is one of the most exciting in the country and along with Jack Guiney they will provide the main scoring threat. An opening round fixture against a highly competitive Westmeath will provide a stiffer challenge than many would expect, so if they see their way past them they should be well oiled to have a go at Kilkenny.
Offaly
It is hard to know who is better placed for taking on the winners of Dublin v Galway but Offaly managed a much more consistent run in the league than a Laois side that barely qualified for the Leinster championship after shipping 5-17 to an atrocious Antrim side in their Round 1 qualifier.
There was finally evidence of life in Offaly’s displays in this year’s league, and in Shane Dooley they possess a player that can reek havoc on defences such as that of Laois. Emmet Nolan’s strong displays at midfield also provide encouragement and victories such as their three-point win over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds must have galvanised their team spirit once again.
If they are to navigate their way past Laois in their opening game, they may well fancy themselves against either Dublin or Galway who are known for their patchy form.
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