THE SECOND year of the four-division hierarchy sees pressure on a number of teams to step up performances given the pretty close relationship between All-Ireland appearances and some sort of track record in the league.

Last year’s finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary, who raise the curtain tomorrow night, mightn’t need to present their championship credentials but Galway could do with challenging as could Cork whereas Dublin will be anxious to maintain their upward trajectory by at least keeping clear of relegation. Offaly will want to consolidate in their first season back from Division Two. Once again the presence of a dysfunctional competitor threatens the integrity of the division and for Limerick – stripped like Cork a year ago of virtually their entire panel from the previous championship – the question is how many severe beatings will it take for sanity to be restored.

Cork

Manager: Denis Walsh, 2nd (1st full) season

2009 NHL: P7, W2, L5 (7th Division One)

First match: Sunday, home v Offaly

Allowing for all of last season’s tomfoolery Cork did well not end up being relegated.

In his first full year in charge Denis Walsh will be looking to overhaul things a bit and the team could be facing a radical evolution from the intricacies of the short game to fielding a couple of skyscrapers, Aisake Ó hAilpín and former footballer Michael Cussen in the forwards.

A changed half-back line and John Gardiner back at centrefield are also likely variations during the campaign. Won’t want the pressure of last year and would like to leave a couple of markers for the summer ahead.

Dublin

Manager: Anthony Daly, 2nd season

2009 NHL: P7, W3, D1, L3 (4th Division One)

First match: Sunday, away v Waterford

A positive year’s progress in 2009 was spoiled only by the failure to take the eminently available scalp of Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

With the slate clean, the effort begins all over again to stay in Division One and plot a different championship course given the Leinster draw.

The loss of the O’Carroll’s to football is a blow but there is plenty of raw material from which Anthony Daly can shape an improving team with Shane Ryan coming back from football and Ronan Fallon fully fit again.

It’s all about building self-belief so survival is essential for long-term prospects.

Galway

Manager: John McIntyre, 2nd season

2009 NHL: P7, W4, L3 (3rd Division One)

First match: Sunday, away v Limerick

Like Dublin, disappointingly frustrated All-Ireland quarter-finalists, Galway need to step up, which won’t be easy given the perennial absence of Portumna players on All-Ireland club duty. It will however allow John McIntyre road-test some new players during the campaign.

David Collins’s return is a positive after missing last season but the big factor missing in the team for years has been the mental ruthlessness to beat teams who are there to be beaten and occasionally one who aren’t.

Hard to develop that in the spring but winning is a habit.

Kilkenny

Manager: Brian Cody, 12th season

2009 NHL: P7, W6, L1 (1st Division One, winners)

First match: tomorrow, away v Tipperary

Kilkenny have done more than any county to establish the status of the NHL. Three-time winners in the past six years and finalists in one of the others, Brian Cody’s team maintain a relentless focus on winning and not emitting any signs of distress that could encourage challengers.

Last year was a lower-key progression than usual but still the league was won against biggest rivals Tipperary with a less than full-strength team. Like Galway the county has to do without top players as Ballyhale prepare for the club final but that won’t inhibit them

Limerick

Manager: Justin McCarthy, 2nd season

2009 NHL: P7, W3, L4 (5th Division One)

First match: Sunday, home v Galway

The only question here is when will the penny drop? Cork got out of their crisis last year just about in time to save their Division One status. The problem for Limerick even with a full squad is that their hardest matches are at home (Galway, Kilkenny and Tipp) whereas the ostensibly more winnable ones are away (Offaly and Dublin). With no solution to the impasse currently visible it’s hard to see at what stage the best players could be realistically assembled and ready to play at a meaningful level.

Offaly

Manager: Joe Dooley, third season

2009 NHL: P7, W6, L1 (2nd Division Two, winners)

First match: Sunday, away v Cork

Promotion last season was followed by a disappointing championship but Joe Dooley’s team come to the starting line boosted by a creditable Walsh Cup campaign that included a victory over a shadow Kilkenny team and narrow defeat by ultimate winners Galway. The team looks to have bulked up a bit and will need to play at a more consistent tempo to get results in the top flight. Nonetheless the big question is probably still: will Limerick be at full strength when they visit at the end of March?

Tipperary

Manager: Liam Sheedy, 3rd season

2009 NHL: P7, W5, D1, L1 (2nd Division One)

First match: tomorrow, home v Kilkenny

Tipp have used the league productively during Liam Sheedy’s tenure and the main business for this campaign will be to keep last season’s momentum ticking over while developing the 2010 team.

The loss of James Woodlock for the campaign is a blow given that the panel is relatively settled and it would have been possible to field consistent selections.

Shane Maher will be hoping to rediscover the form he mislaid last year and players like Gearóid Ryan and Séamus Hennessy can be pushing for starting places.

Waterford

Manager: David Fitzgerald, 3rd (2nd full) season

2009 NHL: P7, W3, D0, L4 (5th Division One)

First match: Tomorrow, home v Dublin

David Fitzgerald’s decision to allow the elder statesmen rest can be of long-term benefit. Tony Browne demonstrated the usefulness of spring breaks in his latter seasons and the absence also allows the team to take a look at the up-and-coming talent, like Thomas Ryan, some of whom performed quite well in the Munster Cup.

Nonetheless even with All Star Michael Walsh in great form at centre back, it’s hard to see the cumulative effect getting Waterford back to their peak of three years ago.