Derry

The most recent team in championship action, having just squeezed out Down in the Ulster final yesterday week, Derry regrouped last week with training sessions on Tuesday and Thursday.

The McKeevers, Kieran and Emmet, and Oliver Collins have been nursing knocks but hurling PRO Anne Sands expects the county will have a full panel to select from.

Derry's press night is on tomorrow and they will train again on Thursday before travelling down to Dublin on Saturday.

The squad will have a warm-up session at Na Fianna's grounds in Glasnevin on Sunday morning before making their way to Croke Park.

Sands believes the team "won't be so much in awe" after last year's experience against Offaly. "The nerves got to the lads a bit last year - you could see that by the poor start - but we're going through the same routine as last year and we're not going down just to make up the numbers."

Galway

Galway coach Mike McNamara, who presided over Clare's infamous training regime in the '90s, believes bringing his new charges to the boil at this stage of the year is the "most difficult job" he's had since becoming involved in hurling.

"Galway are expected to drift into a quarter-final without a match under their belts while other counties can put out tried and trusted teams after playing a couple of championship matches," says McNamara.

The elongated system for the Galway county championship means that clubs were playing up to last Monday and it has left the county team with some injury problems.

"The two Gantleys are out, possibly for the year," says McNamara, "while Cathal Moore (shoulder), Derek Hardiman (broke finger) and Brian Higgins (ankle) are all doubtful."

Of Alan Kerins's involvement with the footballers, McNamara says it's not ideal, but believes it has worked out with the co-operation of both managements.

Without a competitive match since their extremely uncompetitive showing against Tipperary in the league semi-final back in April, the county side has had to play its usual quota of challenge games.

Wexford were well beaten last Monday while they also had a recent outing against Kilkenny which McNamara described as "quite good".

Three weeks ago the squad enjoyed a morale and team building weekend in Dublin.

Kilkenny

Since the Leinster final, club fare has dominated and the county league semi-finals take place tomorrow evening, with O'Loughlin Gaels playing Erin's Own Castlecomer and Glenmore taking on Tullaroan.

All four clubs get a bye into the second round of the championship, where they will be joined by the winners of next weekend's first round matches between Graigue-Ballycallan and Young Irelands, Dunamaggin and James Stephens, Dicksboro and John Lockes, and Fenians and Shamrocks.

Activity stops after next weekend and the county will then have a three-week run-in to their All-Ireland semi-final.

On the injury front, John Power and Peter Barry are expected to feature with their clubs this week.

Limerick

The first round of the club championship took place in the week after the Munster final defeat and Patrickswell, who beat Killmallock, again look the dominant force.

Their only injury concern is Mark Foley, who has a dislocated thumb, while James Moran, who missed the Munster final, will be fit to return after recovering from a hand injury.

While last week's news was dominated by selector Michael Fitzgerald's suspension, the county's enthusiasm for the quarter-final is high and the county is expected to sell its 15,000 ticket allocation and is likely to be seeking returns from other counties.

Tipperary

The squad was in Kerry for collective training this weekend. The county's club league continued back at home, with some matches being played during the week before club activity finishes next weekend, two weeks before the county's All-Ireland semi-final on August 12th.

On the club championship front, champions Toomevara were beaten in the north division last week but can still re-enter at the county quarter-final stage if they win their county league section. Under-21 player John O'Brien, who came on in the Munster final against Limerick and scored a point, remains a concern after picking up an injury in the Munster under-21 semi-final against Waterford.

Wexford

A number of players, including Darren Stamp (Oulart-the-Ballagh) and Mick Jordan (Marshalstown), were involved in intermediate hurling and football championship games this weekend.

Tony Dempsey is expected to make a number of changes for next Sunday's clash with Limerick, with some of the under-21 players on the team that beat Kilkenny in the Leinster final likely to come into contention.

Colm Kehoe is definitely out with torn ankle ligaments and is likely to be replaced by under-21 full back David O'Connor. Sean Flood, having got the runaround in the Leinster final, is also under pressure from another under-21 player, Rory Mallon. Nicky Lampard is also making a case for inclusion in the forward line.

The county, with about seven regulars, lost a challenge to Galway last Monday, going down 3-19 to 0-10.