The youth policy executed by the Dublin county board in recent seasons has been exemplary and tomorrow Dublin place the faith in the future. Dave Sweeney, Mossy McGrane and Shane Martin lack nothing but experience. They'll need immunisation tomorrow against the plague of snatched shooting which beset Dublin over the winter. Big day needed from Jamesie Brennan, while the return of Liam Walsh, missing last summer, might tilt the balance back a little. Wrong to think that doing it this weekend against a troubled Kilkenny team is a now-or-never situation, but opportunity is certainly pressing the buzzer at the door. Not before time. This is the 60th anniversary of Dublin's last hurling All-Ireland.

Kilkenny

Manager: Kevin Fennelly All-Irelands: 25 (1993); Leinster titles: 55 (1993) 1995: Leinster final, btn by Offaly - 1-5/2-16 1996: Leinster 1st rnd, btn by Wexford - 0-14/1-14 1997: All-Ireland semi-final, btn by Clare - 1-13/1-17 Three-year record:

The pendulum may be swinging Kilkenny's way just in time for the summer. Observers have been impressed with the team's displays in recent challenge matches against Limerick and Tipperary. A wretched NHL campaign left the county facing a relegation play-off with Antrim. That, combined with the melodrama of DJ Carey's on-off career, has given Kevin Fennelly lots of headaches in his first year in charge. There has been a drain on experience with the departure of Eddie O'Connor, John Power and Adrian Ronan. The recent cohorts from successive under-age teams - such as Peter Barry, Niall Moloney and Ken O'Shea - have lacked the consistency needed to fill the vacancies created. Nonetheless only Dublin and Laois - albeit both in confident form - stand between Kilkenny and a return ticket to the All-Ireland series.

Laois

Manager: Padraig Horan All-Irelands: 1 (1915); Leinster titles: 5 (1949) 1995: Leinster q-f, btn by Kilkenny - 2-12/2-14 1996: Leinster s-f, btn by Offaly - 2-10/4-17 1997: Leinster q-f, btn by Offaly - 2-7/1-11 Three-year record:

Can Laois break out of their two-year futility cycle which ordains that good NHL campaigns are followed by dreadful championship results and vice versa? Mind you, the good championship results haven't actually meant wins, just narrow defeats. Padraig Horan's arrival as manager has drawn a good response and there is confidence that the satisfactory League campaign just concluded won't automatically lead to the industrialsize trimmings that followed promotion in 1994 and reaching the semi-finals in '96. The draw has been kind in that it has kept Laois apart from their recent tormentors, Wexford and Offaly. Better served by a competent, combative defence than an attack which lacks depth.

Offaly

Manager: Michael `Babs' Keating All-Irelands: 3 (1994); Leinster titles: 9 (1995) 1995: All-Ireland final, btn by Clare - 1-13/2-8 1996: Leinster final, btn by Wexford - 2-23/2-15 1997: Leinster s-f, btn by Kilkenny - 2-20/2-13 Three-year record:

The Ascent of John Ryan as a target full forward is a big plus for Offaly. Ryan can't conjure but he has shoulders and an appetite and Offaly have needed that to balance out the wand merchants. The return to duty of the Birr contingent will be a considerable help and Johnny Pilkington's flirtation with rugby should be history for now. One suspects that they might need a sterner figure than Babs Keating to get them interested on those days when they aren't exactly shivering with fear. Still, if things fall right (as they did with the draw), they'll have at least four games this summer. That sort of momentum might kick start their appetite.

Wexford

Manager: Rory Kinsella All-Irelands: 6 (1996); Leinster titles: 19 (1997) 1995: Leinster s-f, btn by Offaly - 1-10/2-14 1996: Champions, bt Limerick 1997: All-Ireland s-f, btn by Tipperary - 0-15/2-16 Three-year record:

At Full strength and with the swelling momentum of the 1798 bicentenary (which is considered a far more highly-charged influence in Wexford than is generally appreciated elsewhere), the Leinster champions would be a formidable force. Unfortunately, injuries have riddled the team. Rod Guiney's out, Liam Dunne's bad leg-break won't be ready in time for the Offaly semi-final, Gary Laffan looks like not making it either and for a while there was the possibility that Adrian Fenlon might be missing, although he should now make it. No team in the country could survive that loss of quality. It's very frustrating for Rory Kinsella who otherwise had good grounds for optimism. A few new faces have strengthened the panel and Paul Codd has come on a ton during the League. Getting past Offaly is the problem.

Munster

Clare

Manager: Ger Loughnane All-Irelands: 3 (1997); Munster titles: 5 (1997) 1995: Champions, bt Offaly - 1-13 2-8 1996: Munster s-f, btn by Limerick - 1-13/0-15 1997: Champions, bt Tipperary - 0-20/2-13 Three-year record:

Interesting to see if Clare can switch the intensity on and off as they wish. The shoulder shrugs which accompanied their league exit suggest they think it possible. They might fret about the wear and tear of time and how that may have exacted on appetite and edge. Measure against that the notion of a rousing last hurrah for the team as we have known it. Motivation there for sure. The team as we have known it hasn't changed much by the way. The ball is hopping high enough for the Sparrow these days, Daly's influence guarantees him a place which the bad days might threaten. Time for the younger generation of forwards to secure tenure.

Cork

Manager: Jimmy Barry Murphy

All-Irelands: 27 (1990); Munster titles: 45 (1992) 1995: Munster s-f, btn by Clare - 3-9/2-13 1996: Munster 1st rd, btn by Limerick - 1-8/3-18 1997: Munster s-f, btn by Clare - 0-18/1-19 Three-year record:

The NHl title is testimony to the fine turnaround in the county's fortunes since the nadir of two years ago. There is a naivete to Cork in the sense that JBM has been putting out his best 15 and trying to win matches without artifice since the League began in March. Success two weeks ago will have maintained the momentum of the team's self-confidence but tomorrow will test the substance of the improvement. The defence has performed well with Brian Corcoran calling the shots at centre back, centrefield has been adequate and Joe Deane has been in sparkling form with strong, if episodic, support from Sean McGrath, Fergal McCormack and new arrival Sean O'Farrell. Can they hack it in adversity? Limited evidence, such as the second half of the League final and the end of a rainy afternoon in New Ross against Wexford, suggests yes.

Limerick

Manager: Eamon Cregan All-Irelands: 7 (1973); Munster titles: 16 (1996) 1995: Munster final, btn by Clare - 1-17/0-11 1996: All-Ireland final, btn by Wexford - 1-13/0-14 1997: Munster s-f, btn by Tipperary - 1-20/0-13 Three-year record: P10 W6 D1 L3 65% 1998: 1st rnd, v Cork, tomorrow, Gaelic Grounds.

Having Got so little credit in their prime Limerick will hardly be surprised to find themselves being manhandled towards the glue factory as they decline. The evidence suggests, however, that the personnel might be willing but no longer able. Has Gary Kirby got the energy to drag the forwards through another summer? The shifting of Ciaran Carey back to defence doesn't smack of confidence. Where are the young forwards who were to take up the burden? Dave Hennessy are you there? Dave? It will take all of Cregan's meticulousness and motivational powers to make this a long summer.

Tipperary

Manager: Len Gaynor All-Irelands: 24 (1991); Munster titles: 35 (1993) 1995: Munster s-f, btn by Limerick, 0-15/0-16 1996: Munster final, btn by Limerick, 1-16/0-19, 016/4-7 (replay) 1997: All-Ireland final, btn by Clare, 2-13/0-20 Three-year record: P11 W6 D1 L4, 59%. 1998: s-f v Waterford, June 7th, Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

A bad League campaign has thrown into doubt the prospects that seemed so promising after last year's narrow All-Ireland final defeat. Injuries, poor form and Waterford's progress have contributed to nervousness about the Munster semi-final. The centre of the defence will have to be recast after Noel Sheehy's retirement. Paul Shelly is unhappy there and anyway is not even assured of the corner-back slot and the prospect of 19-year-old Philip Maher going in at the deep end has emerged. Michael Ryan is another possibility for the number three jersey. Conor Gleeson looked the likely man for centre back, but a thigh injury threatens his participation in the Waterford match. Paul Kelly, only out of minor, played regularly in the League but is also injured. Up front, an experienced half-forward line backs up a very youthful set of inside forwards. Len Gaynor managed to do a lot of running repairs last year, but to emulate those opportunities Tipp need to reach the Munster final.

Waterford

Manager: Gerald McCarthy All-Irelands: 2 (1959); Munster titles: 5 (1963) 1995: Munster 1st rnd, btn by Tipperary - 1-11/4-23 1996: Munster s-f, btn by Tipperary - 1-11/1-14 1997: Munster 1st rnd, btn by Limerick - 1-17/2-20 Three-year record:

It's all very well assuming that Waterford are "better off" losing a League final and nearly getting embarrassed by Kerry, but the team's season depends totally on beating Tipperary. Gerald McCarthy has reason to be optimistic. Defence has been good during the NHL with the half-back line starring, but also good, if at times more fallible, support from behind. The attack features a number of scoring forwards, although the poor performances of the two best, Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn, raises questions of temperament that need to be answered emphatically if the team is to thrive at championship level. All-Ireland under-21 medallist Sean Daly's back on the panel to boost the options in attack. Beating Tipp and gaining entry to the All-Ireland series would be a huge advance.

Ulster

Antrim

Manager: Sean McGuinness All-Irelands: None; Ulster titles: 32 (1996) 1995: Ulster final replay, btn by Down - 1-19/2-10 1996: All-Ireland s-final, btn by Limerick - 1-17/0-13 1997: Ulster final, btn by Down - 3-14/0-19 Three-year record: P6 W2 D1 L3 % 1998: Semi-final v London, June 14th

After the disappointment of recent years Sean McGuinness should be wily enough to pull another Ulster title out of the bag. Still any complacency in that regard would be fatal. The spring was a little disappointing, but Antrim showed signs of turning the corner and Dunloy's achievements are a source of confidence. In defence Conor McCambridge's return is welcome and up front some more productive afternoons from the Elliots would make a difference, while the form of club mate Colm McGuckian is encouraging.

Derry

Manager: Kevin McNaughton All-Irelands: None; Ulster titles: None 1995-96: Didn't compete at senior level 1997: Ulster semi-final, btn by Down - 1-10/1-15 Three-year record:

One of these years, Derry will take a scalp - just as it happened for Down in 1992 - as their younger players mature. For periods in last year's semi-final against Down, specifically after Oliver Collins took to the field, it looked like the time had arrived. Campaigning in the same division as Down - although not the same section - Derry just missed out on a promotion play-off and will hardly be intimidated in the semi-final. Collins, who hardly plays a match without being described as the `most accomplished player on the pitch', was recovering from injury last year and only came on in the second half.

Down

Manager: Frank Dawson All-Irelands: None; Ulster titles: 3 (1997) 1995: All-Ireland semi-final, btn by Offaly - 2-8/2-19 1996: Ulster final, btn by Antrim - 2-12/1-20 1997: All-Ireland q-f, btn by Tipperary - 3-8/3-24 Three-year record:

Frank Dawson's enthusiasm helped Down carry off a notable coup last year, recovering from having to play NHL in Division Three and a wobbly semi-final against Derry to land the county's third Ulster title in six years. This year, plans have been laid with precision, promotion to Division One and the defence of championship. So far, with the NHL play-offs imminent, the scorched earth of Division Two B is witness to Down's serious intent. Morale should be better than Antrim's but with Sean McGuinness back in charge of the challengers, Down will tread warily.

London

Manager: Tommy Harrell 1995: All-Ireland q-f, btn by Down - 0-16/0-9 1996: Prelim, btn by New York - 1-16/0-14 1997: Did not compete. Three-year record:

Connacht

Roscommon

Manager: Michael Conneely 1995: Connacht final, btn by Galway - 2-21/2-12 1996: Connacht final, btn by Galway - 3-19/2-10 1997: Connacht final, btn by Galway - 6-24/0-5 Three-year record:

Trying to save the Connacht championship with a decent performance against Galway. Last year's debacle, which included the attempted beheading of Joe Rabbitte, doesn't augur well. Neither does the league campaign just laid to rest. A brave experiment just about to end.

Galway

Manager: Cyril Farrell All-Irelands: 4 (1988) 1995: All-Ireland s-f, btn by Clare - 3-12/1-13 1996: All-Ireland s-f, btn by Wexford - 2-13/3-7 1997: All-Ireland q-f, btn by Kilkenny - 4-15/3-16 Three-year record:

Slow Train coming. Galway are beginning to suffer from Offaly Syndrome. Lots of flash talent and very little flash silverware. Farrell has tended to the spine producing a sturdy central column for the team. The centre back position remains troublesome, however, and while the lighter forwards revolve like satellites around big Joe Rabbitte, all except Broderick could be more productive. Recent splashes by Dara Coen augur well, however. Another season of beating nobody except Roscommon will further disturb their disenchanted constituency.