Hurling Championship 2005: Seán Moran argues that, despite its flaws, the new championship system is to be welcomed

This year the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship will be run under its fourth format in the past 10 years. It's ironic at a time of unprecedented structural change the field of genuine contenders is as thin as it has been for decades.

But change is for the better. Each alteration to the format has improved the championship and this year there will be for the first time a guaranteed minimum of four matches for every county involved.

There is also a sensible restriction on the number of teams entering the race for the McCarthy Cup. Twelve is, of course, a bit on the generous side and as a result the group qualifiers might be too predictable and consequently struggle to attract attention. But the quarter-finals will give us - at last - the eight best teams in the country.

The battle among the remaining four counties to avoid relegation from hurling's developed world will also be intense. But the pity is there isn't at present a competitive base that supports anything more ultimately meaningful (in terms of potential winners) than a well-contested final and perhaps one decent semi-final.

Overall though the new system is to be welcomed even if it's more of a staging post than a destination in the journey towards an ideal format. At least the four quarter-finals will deflect attention from the ongoing crisis in the provincial championships.

Leinster's problems have been well documented and even last year's break in Kilkenny's record dominance of the province was more punctuation than a shift of power. One of the hardest sells facing the GAA this summer has to be the Leinster hurling semi-finals - a double bill that attracted a record attendance just eight years ago.

Offaly are finding their feet after a season in Division Two. Even if they win this tonight's divisional final against Carlow their opponents next month are Kilkenny, who so emphatically won the Division One title.

Up to 10 years ago Offaly used to save their best performances for the matches against Kilkenny but have lost the last five championship meetings between the counties by an average margin of 11 points.

Waiting for Kilkenny in the final would probably be Wexford, whom they took for 30 points last month. More dauntingly Wexford's sensational coup 12 months ago by now looks like a liability given the thirst for vengeance demonstrated so far by Kilkenny.

Even the Munster championship hasn't quite the same depth as before. Most believe that the Cork-Waterford semi-final will produce the provincial champions. Ironically they are the two counties seen to have the best chance of competing with Kilkenny.

Yet one of them will be in the qualifier groups within a couple of weeks, a fate not likely to enhance their broader claims.

They will have the added problem of replicating the form that gave both counties successful seasons last year. The All-Ireland has been won back-to-back only once in the past 13 years and even Munster hasn't seen its title retained since 2000.

So the challenge of maintaining performance levels over two championships shouldn't be underestimated.

Kilkenny have managed to sustain their presence at the top of hurling partly for a number of reasons. The most obvious is the pressure that strength-in-depth brings to bear on team places. Brian Cody's ability and willingness to introduce new players keeps everyone on their toes.

Anyone at last Sunday's NFL final couldn't fail to notice the eagerness of Eddie Brennan when he took the field as a replacement or doubt his appetite to regain his place.

A ruthless selection policy is a luxury afforded Kilkenny by the scale of the county's achievements. Last year the county retained the under-21 All-Ireland by a landslide and narrowly failed to do the same at minor. Since then the county nearly completed a clean sweep of all three All-Irelands with James Stephens winning the senior and Galmoy the junior with Carrickshock tipped off by injury-time goals in the intermediate. And of course the county added the league last week.

As well as intensifying competition for places it gives the team options. It looks as if Cody has absorbed the limitations of last year's over-emphasis on physique and height in attack, as the newcomers to the team to date have been talented ball players, like Richie Power and Eoin Larkin, and Tommy Walsh has been restored to the attack where his ability to snap up ball and shoot points is seen as of primary importance.

Cork countered Kilkenny's physique by keeping the ball low last year and making sure that possession was retained rather than tossed into the hazard by being struck heedlessly into the air. This led to a certain unease in the county at the adoption of what was seen as Newtownshandrum's running style but it was effective in keeping the ball away from opponents.

After a lackadaisical league Cork haven't installed the same level of competition in their panel and look short the one or two extra players needed to freshen up even champions. The slow start in Munster last year cost Cork the provincial title. Although the county's defence has been the team's bulwark the forwards took time to find their best form by which stage inconsistency had caused the second-half downfall in the Munster final.

Waterford's situation is the opposite to Cork's. Although their defence showed much better form in the second half of the Munster final, it was the penetrative qualities of the forwards that enabled the team to stay in touch last June and plot an unlikely escape route with John Mullane off the field.

Justin McCarthy's side need to maintain the pace and fluidity of the attack at its best but also to introduce greater stability at the back. The problem for the Munster sides is they will have to find the sort of hunger that All-Ireland defeat has bequeathed to Kilkenny this time around.

It's worth making reference to the new tier two and tier three championships. A general problem in the GAA has been the reluctance of counties to contest competitions pitched at a realistic level. In hurling this was particularly hard to understand given the huge disparity between the top and bottom counties. Hopefully the Ring and Rackard Cups will change this and the enhanced profile of the finals - to be played as curtain-raisers before the senior All-Ireland semi-finals at Croke Park - will encourage greater engagement.

On form to date it would be hard to overlook the form teams in Division Two and Three, respectively. Offaly will be contesting the McCarthy Cup so that makes Carlow favourites for the Ring Cup even if they did slip up against Derry.

Mayo have been playing well for a couple of years now and, at the level of the Rackard Cup, have the beating of the field.

ANTRIM

Manager Dinny Cahill (fourth year)

Titles Ulster 45 (holders), All-Ireland none

Last year Ulster champions, lost All-Ireland quarter-final to Cork 0-10 to 2-26

NHL position Fourth in Division One, relegation section

Antrim were comfortable while retaining their Division One status, which is as much a reflection on the standard in the top flight as proof of significant improvement on the Ulster champions' part. They have no pressure in terms of this year's Ulster championship in that their All-Ireland place is guaranteed regardless of how the province pans out.

The opportunity to play three matches in the All-Ireland series should be a benefit to Cahill's team although there have been signs they're not going as well as in previous years.

Still, they responded well to suggestions Down might have overhauled them in the Ulster pecking order and have, under Cahill, hurled better in the summer and up until last year's hammering by Cork, had performed well. But there's not the sense that things have moved on sufficiently for radical improvement.

CLARE

Manager Anthony Daly (second year)

Titles Munster 5 (1998), All-Ireland 3 (1997)

Last year Lost Munster first round to Waterford 3-21 to 0-8, lost All-Ireland quarter-final replay to Kilkenny 0-9 to 1-11 (1-13 all draw)

NHL position Second in Division One, finalists

The league final defeat triggered despondency in the county but, on reflection, Clare met Kilkenny in untouchable form in the second half.

The improvised nature of the half forward line came unstuck when the pressure came on and the full forwards starved as a result.

There is too much reliance on the iconic veterans. Brian Lohan, Seán McMahon and Colin Lynch were variously troubled in the league final.

Daly got a good response to last year's devastation by Waterford but the lack of a quality attack bedevilled the team and cost them a win in the quarter-final.

Barry Nugent is the only newcomer to the forwards, who depend on Niall Gilligan.

It's not all gloom in that Clare have reasonable prospects in the semi-final against Limerick/Tipperary.

CORK

Manager John Allen (first year)

Titles Munster 47, All-Ireland 29 (holders)

Last year Lost Munster final to Waterford 1-21 to 3-16

NHL position Fifth in Division One, Group One,

Perhaps John Allen wanted to replicate as much as possible last year's preparations but Cork's attitude to the NHL was puzzling. It is reasonable for a manager taking over All-Ireland champions to want to pass a quiet league but the lack of ambition in the big rematch with Kilkenny disappointed some in the county.

One problem with the minimalist approach is there has been little in the way of pressure created on the first team and it's hard to see many changes from last year.

One significant loss will be Wayne Sherlock, who is expected to miss the Munster semi-final against Waterford, but the defence is unlikely to prove their downfall.

Defeat in a fortnight would be a disaster in that it would suck the team into the extra matches of the extended qualifiers. If they can avoid that Cork are still in business as one of the country's top two.

DUBLIN

Manager Humphrey Kelleher (second year)

Titles Leinster 23 (1961), All-Ireland 6 (1938)

Last year Lost Leinster semi-final to Offaly 1-13 to 2-25, lost All-Ireland qualifier first round to Kilkenny 0-8 to 4-22

NHL position Sixth in Division One, relegation group (relegated). Signs aren't good.

This has been an annus horribilis for Dublin. The season began with rumblings of discontent from the dressingroom and a sustained exodus while the campaign unfolded. A succession of heavy beatings further eroded morale and culminated in defeat against a Down side that aren't even in this championship. That effectively relegated Dublin and with at least one season in Division Two - the first in nine years - guaranteed, there is now the fearful prospect of a league/championship double.

Only Laois and, at a pinch, Antrim look capable of losing to Dublin and, given that both comfortably saw off their challenge during the NHL, relegation from the McCarthy Cup is a vivid possibility for the county.

GALWAY

Manager Conor Hayes (third year)

Titles Connacht 20 (1999 - last year played), All-Ireland 4 (1988)

Last year Lost All-Ireland qualifier second round to Kilkenny 1-10 to 4-20.

NHL position Third in Division One.

The trauma of last year's blitzkrieg experience against Kilkenny extended up until Christmas with Conor Hayes' re-appointment handled just about as messily as possible.

The fact he brought on board two respected All-Ireland medallists like Seán Silke and Séamus Coen revived spirits a little but the league campaign has created few optimists.

The county tipped along well enough to come in just behind Kilkenny and Clare but they were comprehensively beaten by the former in phase one and don't look to have come up with convincing answers in central team positions.

The problem of having to sift through candidates to create a settled team persists and whereas the new format will equip them better for the knockout stages, there isn't evidence of the leap necessary to lift a not untalented collective to the elite level.

KILKENNY

Manager Brian Cody (seventh year)

Titles Leinster 61 (2003), All-Ireland 28 (2003)

Last year Lost Leinster semi-final to Wexford 1-16 to 2-15, lost All-Ireland final to Cork 0-9 to 0-17

NHL position Division One winners

Back in the rhythm after last year's disappointments. The league has proved a good indicator of what Kilkenny's summer held in store. The team have so far demonstrated the edge, which comes from losing an All-Ireland, and the freshness that comes from having quality players emerging to put pressure on the incumbents.

It's too early to be definitive about the long-term prospects, given the extra match at the quarter-final stage lengthens the season in a way they struggled to deal with last year.

But Leinster looks gift-wrapped. The breakthrough players - Jackie Tyrrell, Bryan Barry, Eoin Larkin and Richie Power - will be new to the altitude pressure of senior championship but over the years Cody has been a shrewd judge of players' abilities to adapt and, anyway, there are plenty of anxious panellists ready to step in.

LAOIS

Manager Paudie Butler (third year)

Titles Leinster 3 (19 49), All-Ireland 1 (1915)

Last year Lost Leinster first round to Offaly 1-15 to 2-23 and lost All-Ireland qualifier first round to Tipperary 2-15 to 7-19.

NHL position Third in Division One relegation section.

For the initial stages of the National Hurling League Paudie Butler's side gave the usual good account of themselves but didn't perform well in the second phase, dropping points to Antrim and Limerick, who gave them a right beating, and recording an unimpressive win over Down.

The problem for the team is their battling instincts get undermined the later into the year it gets.

After a good NHL campaign last year, which included burying neighbours Offaly in Division Two, they slumped in the championship - departing with hardly a whimper against the same Offaly and getting lacerated by Clare in the qualifiers.

Unless there's major improvement they'll be fighting to stay in the elite championship.

LIMERICK

Manager Joe McKenna (first year)

Titles Munster 17 (1996), All-Ireland 7 (1973)

Last year Lost Munster semi-final to Cork 2-12 to 1-18, lost All-Ireland qualifier first round to Tipperary 2-12 to 3-10.

NHL position Second in Division One relegation section.

McKenna becomes the fourth manager in successive years to try to turn all that under-21 promise into something tangible at senior level.

The league turned into a nightmare as far as meaningful preparation was concerned with the departure of Pad Joe Whelahan just after it started.

The return of dual players Stephen Lucey and Conor Fitzgerald coincided with some better results in the second phase, but the team aren't exactly settled with players being shuttled around the field.

Last year they were within a score of both Cork and Tipperary in the championship and qualifiers, respectively, and showed spirit. Tipperary aren't an impossible draw and the new format will give the team an opportunity to play a few matches and try to get into a rhythm.

OFFALY

Manager John McIntyre (first year)

Titles Leinster 9 (1995), All-Ireland 4 (1998)

Last year Lost Leinster final to Wexford 1-11 to 2-12, lost All-Ireland qualifier to Clare 2-10 to 3-16

NHL position First in Division Two and playing in tomorrow's final.

Maybe the fright of losing to Carlow will prove a blessing, assuming Offaly manage to overcome the same team in this evening's Division Two final.

Nonetheless, their state of mind is likely to be less important than Kilkenny's when it comes to next month's Leinster semi-final.

John McIntyre will be under zero pressure against the All-Ireland favourites, who will be straight from their emphatic success in the NHL, but he knows there is still plenty to play for as long as morale doesn't disintegrate under the pressure of their opening match.

The type of game that will optimise their chances against Kilkenny - quick, one-touch and on the ground - has hardly benefited from a season in Division Two. They will improve with the round-robin matches and could have a reasonable shot at the quarter-finals.

TIPPERARY

Manager Ken Hogan (second year)

Titles Munster 37 (2001), All-Ireland 25 (2001)

Last year Lost Munster semi-final to Waterford 3-12 to 4-10, lost All-Ireland qualifier second round to Cork 1-16 to 2-19.

NHL position Fourth in Division One.

Four years on from All-Ireland success, Tipp are floundering. The negatives from last year haven't been satisfactorily addressed whereas the positives look more qualified.

Eoin Kelly continues to be the mainstay of the attack, but lacks support even more than last year with the absence of John Carroll from the panel.

The John Devane experiment continues but, despite not being settled at centrefield, Tipp have still overlooked Joe Caesar, their best player in the under-21 final wipe out last year. At the back, even Philip Maher hasn't been himself during the league and centre back is not Eamonn Corcoran's most comfortable position.

Despite a lack of outstanding players, if they can hit the ground running there's a good chance of a place in the Munster final. After that it depends on the draw.

WATERFORD

Manager Justin McCarthy (Fourth year)

Titles Munster 7 (holders), All-Ireland 2 (1959)

Last year Munster champions, lost All-Ireland semi-final to Kilkenny 0-18 to 3-12.

NHL position First in Division One relegation section.

Already being spoken of as the last chance in McCarthy's tenure to pick up an All-Ireland.

Maybe the poor league campaign can be explained away by the lack of deep resources and with Ken McGrath injured from the first match, the programme was more to be endured than attacked.

Hopes are high that McGrath can recover, but concerns now centre on Tony Browne. McGrath's great year at centre back has made Fergal Hartley's return from retirement a bit of a conundrum - likely to be solved by placing him at full back.

Intrinsic to last year's best displays was the attacking brio that proved so important in all three big wins. Can Dan Shanahan get back to that sort of form? Will John Mullane explode into his summer best?

The major challenge is up first. Beat Cork and Waterford have momentum; lose and the qualifiers beckon.

WEXFORD

Manager Séamus Murphy (first year)

Titles Leinster 19 (holders), All-Ireland 6 (1996)

Last year Leinster champions, lost All-Ireland semi-final to Cork 0-12 to 1-27

NHL position Sixth in Division One

Wexford aren't in a much worse position than last year - and we know what happened then - but neither are they in a conspicuously better state.

Having done well to reach the top-six phase of the league, there followed a horrendous run of defeats, including the notorious 30-point drilling from Kilkenny and a minus 46 scoring difference for the series.

The advent of Des Mythen to the full forward line does little - for all his undoubted ability - to address the lack of physical focus in the attack now Larry Murphy has retired, even if Paul Codd may return.

Séamus Murphy will need to devise a plan for the likely Leinster final tilt with Kilkenny. Last year's hit-and-run blueprint would hardly take Kilkenny by surprise again. Still, the imminent return of Darragh Ryan and Adrian Fenlon will settle things down and the door is open for a quarter-final place.