A look at the teams contesting the All-Ireland hurling championship this year

Antrim

Manager:Dinny Cahill (second year). Provincial titles:Ulster 49 (holders). All-Ireland titles:none. 2010 championship:Lost Leinster quarter-final to Offaly (after extra-time) and All-Ireland quarter-final to Cork. NHL:Fourth Division.

Dinny Cahill appears to have turned things around for the county. A year ago there was no great optimism about the summer but they beat Dublin and put it up to Cork. Under-strength for much of the league, Antrim came out and recorded a first win in Leinster and are peppering for Wexford at the weekend. With Neil McManus prolific up front and Liam Watson to return from injury, they have a cutting edge. Discipline however could be improved.

Carlow

Manager:Kevin Ryan (third year). Provincial titles:Leinster none. All-Ireland titles:none. 2010 championship:Lost Leinster preliminary round to Laois and All-Ireland qualifier phase one to Antrim. NHL:Sixth Division Two.

The falling off in league performances this year, culminating in a monumental whacking by Clare, was prophetic. Sunday’s defeat by Westmeath featured some misfortune but the lack of concentration at the back led to goalkeeping errors, which proved fatal. Overall though, the defence came out better than the attack, which struggled to impose itself throughout the match. Kevin Ryan will have his work cut out to engineer the sort of encouraging qualifier campaign the team delivered last year.

Clare

Manager:Ger O'Loughlin (second year). Provincial titles:Munster 6 (1998). All-Ireland titles:3 (1997). 2010 championship:Lost Munster semi-final to Waterford, lost All-Ireland qualifier round two to Dublin. NHL:2nd Division Two and runners-up in divisional final.

The draw hasn’t done Ger O’Loughlin any great favours either with a warmed-up Tipp (or Cork) on the way for the semi-final. Still, the under-21s are a year older and Nicky O’Connell, John Conlon and Darach Honan all appear in good form going into the championship. During an underwhelming league campaign the attack managed to score more goals than any other county in the five divisions. Centrefield however is still a work in progress and the defence isn’t terribly convincing.

Cork

Manager:Denis Walsh (third year). Provincial titles:Munster 50 (2006). All-Ireland titles:30 (2005). 2010 championship:Lost Munster final to Waterford after replay, lost All-Ireland semi-final to Kilkenny. NHL:Sixth Division One.

Things appear to have gone backwards. A mediocre league failed indicated that the reliance on senior citizens continues. Luke Farrell’s likely to step up but otherwise the attack isn’t inspiring with Conor Lehane tied up with his Leaving Cert until next month. Defence will hold up but there are question marks over centrefield and it’s hard to see Tipp getting their eye wiped for a second year in this fixture. Then it’s up to the qualifier draw.

Dublin

Manager:Anthony Daly (third season). Provincial titles:Leinster 23 (1961). All-Ireland titles:6 (1938). 2010 championship:Lost Leinster semi-final to Kilkenny, lost All-Ireland qualifier phase two to Antrim. NHL:Second Division One and winners.

This has already been a seismic season for Dublin with a first national title landed in more than 70 years but they remain unproven as a championship outfit. It’s a mark of the overall improvement that the arrival of Conal Keaney and Ryan O’Dwyer has been just part of the story. Offaly will be tough, and injuries to Joey Boland and Tomás Brady don’t help but a strong panel ethos gives reason for optimism.

Galway

Manager:John McIntyre (third year). Provincial titles:Connacht 21 (1999, discontinued). All-Ireland titles:4 (1988). 2010 championship:Lost Leinster final to Kilkenny and All-Ireland quarter-final to Tipperary. NHL:Fifth Division One.

Last year’s league title didn’t lead anywhere interesting so Galway may feel that the lack-lustre campaign just concluded won’t have too much meaning for this year’s championship. The team will also be stronger with Joe Canning, Damien Hayes and Fergal Moore back on board although Iarla Tannian’s injury is a concern and Ollie Canning is retired. Out of the top four for six years now, they need to make that much progress at least but momentum is lacking.

Laois

Manager:Brendan Fennelly (first year). Provincial titles:Leinster 3 (1949). All-Ireland titles:1 (1915). 2010 championship:Lost Leinster quarter-final to Dublin and All-Ireland qualifier preliminary round to Carlow. NHL:Third Division Two.

Have lost a number of players and blew their promotion chances by losing to Carlow early in the league campaign. Hampered by injuries last week, they went down to a 14-man Antrim and completed two forgettable years in Leinster. Two years ago they pushed Limerick all the way in the qualifiers but since then have struggled. Willie Hyland remains a high-class scorer but even at full strength, they’re short of the physical impact necessary to drive on in the qualifiers.

Limerick

Manager:Donal O'Grady (first year). Provincial titles:Munster 18 (1996). All-Ireland titles:7 (1973). 2010 championship:Lost Munster semi-final replay to Cork, lost All-Ireland qualifier phase two to Offaly. NHL:First Division Two and winners.

Donal O’Grady has turned it around in Limerick more comprehensively than expected. Admittedly at full blast they weren’t supposed to be in Division Two but the manager has made sure now that they’re not anymore. He’s also prioritised young players, bringing in the promising schoolboy Declan Hannon for the league final win over Clare. Allowing for the context, no county conceded fewer league goals. Having turned the corner after last year’s disaster, they will have enough energy to trouble Waterford.

Kilkenny

Manager:Brian Cody (12th year). Provincial titles:Leinster 67 (holders). All-Ireland titles:32 (2009). 2010 championship:Leinster champions and All-Ireland finalists. NHL:First Division One and finalists.

For all that they topped Division One and injuries to key players gave them a plausible alibi for the final, Kilkenny have been struggling. They looked and proved more beatable than for many league seasons and appear to be struggling to effect the usual, remorseless regeneration. None the less Henry Shefflin’s return will give them direction and realistically Tipperary are the only side guaranteed a 50-50 shot at them but no-one’s going to be quite as terrified as previously.

Offaly

Manager:Joe Dooley (fourth year). Provincial titles:Leinster 9 (1995). All-Ireland titles:4 (1998). 2010 championship:Lost Leinster semi-final to Galway after replay and All-Ireland qualifier phase three to Tipperary. NHL:Eighth Division One and relegated.

Having suffered a sickening end to the league with last-day relegation, Offaly are still regarded warily by Dublin. But Joe Dooley’s injury problems, far from abating have taken a turn for the worse with James Rigney recently breaking his arm. Likely to be short conservatively a third of the players who a year ago nearly shocked Galway and were competitive with Tipp, it’s hard to see how they can impact on this championship.

Tipperary.

Manager:Declan Ryan (first year). Provincial titles:Munster 38. All-Ireland titles:26 (holders). 2 010 championship:Lost Munster first round to Cork, All-Ireland champions. NHL:Fourth Division One.

As expected Tipp had a quiet league, absorbing the All-Ireland success and integrating with a new management team. Pa Bourke got a lot more attention game time and Shane Bourke also made an impact. Optimising Pádraic Maher’s contribution is another issue but for now he’ll probably stay on the wing. Gearóid Ryan has done well at centrefield but Brendan Maher is on his way back from injury. Similarly does Noel McGrath move over Séamus Callanan? The dilemma of options.

Waterford

Manager:David Fitzgerald (fourth year). Provincial titles:Munster 8 (holders). All-Ireland titles:2 (1959). 2010 championship:Munster champions and lost All-Ireland semi-final to Tipperary. NHL:Third Division One.

Still holding up competitively after an improvised league campaign in which David Fitzgerald used over 30 players. Their flair hurlers have slipped away bit by bit and the emphasis is now very much on containment. Apart from Richie Foley’s reliable dead ball conversion, John Mullane remains the principal scoring threat up front. With one match against Limerick between them and the final they will target the retention of their Munster title and hope for a manageable All-Ireland semi-final.

Wexford

Manager:Colm Bonnar (third year). Provincial titles:Leinster 20 (2004). All-Ireland titles:6 (1996). 2010 championship:Lost Leinster quarter-final to Galway, lost All-Ireland qualifier phase one to Tipperary. NHL:Seventh Division One.

For a second year Wexford finished the league on a high, taking a point off Tipperary and preserving their Division One membership. Overall it was a competitive enough campaign, spoiled by losing to Offaly, a slip that nearly cost them dearly. Talisman Diarmuid Lyng is abroad but Keith Rossiter remains a quality defender and Éanna Martin has shown good recent form. If they can pick up momentum by beating Antrim, a home match with Kilkenny awaits.

Westmeath

Manager:Brian Hanley (first year). Provincial titles:Leinster none. All-Ireland titles:none. 2010 championship:Christy Ring champions. NHL:Eighth Division Two and relegated.

Having changed manager in April after a league whitewash and relegation to Division Three, Westmeath got right back on track with an unexpected win against Carlow at the weekend – their first in the province for five years. The return of a number of first-choice hurlers, including dual players Paul Greville and Brendan Murtagh, has lifted the county and they will be in good fettle for Galway’s visit.