Hurling Power Rankings after the National League

After a National League campaign that saw Limerick triumph for the first time in 22 years whilst adding to their All-Ireland secured in 2018 the hurling landscape is as competitive as it has been for some time.

Yes, Limerick were ultimately streets ahead of every team but such was the introduction of new faces by the majority of managers, this years championship promises to be as intriguing as ever.

1.Limerick  

Reigning All-Ireland and League champions, Limerick are the form team in Ireland, and by some distance. Despite a loss to Cork in the Gaelic Grounds, the ease at which Limerick overcame Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford should be enough to put fear into any team.

John Kiely as amassed a seriously strong squad, adding the likes of Conor Boylan to an already stacked All-Ireland squad. While Munster has proven to be a real struggle for Limerick in recent years, They are the team to beat.

2. Clare

Realistically any of the next five teams could slot in at no.2 with no team really cementing themselves as Limerick’s greatest challenger. However, Clare did hold Limerick to a draw in Ennis in the League and have been somewhat of a bogey team for the Treaty in recent years.

This in conjunction with the sheer level of talent at their disposal has them positioned in second. Despite a heavy loss to Waterford in the league quarter final, Clare did account for Kilkenny and Tipp in the league and after two successive Munster final losses, their main focus this year will no doubt be on the Munster championship, with a view on returning to Croke Park.

3. Galway

The news that Galway will be without talisman Joe Canning for up to 16-weeks with a nasty groin injury sees the 2017 All-Ireland champions drop to third. Canning has become so integral to everything Galway have done in the past two years, the impact of his loss is unimaginable.

However, their squad is full of All-Stars with the likes of Daithi Burke, Conor Cooney and David Burke absent from the league with club commitments.

This Spring they have unearthed some new talent and a switch for Cathal Mannion to midfield has invigorated the Ahascragh-Fohenagh man. With a full strength side, they are a match for anyone.

4. Cork

Cork are difficult to rank after a dismal league campaign saw them finish bottom of 1A but also becoming the only team to defeat Limerick, in a classy display in the Gaelic Grounds.

Successive Munster championship victories have both been followed by losses to Munster sides in the All-Ireland semi-finals as John Meyler looks to finally reach a first All-Ireland final since the 2013 defeat to Cork.

Alan Cadogan has returned this Spring adding to an already excellent forward unit. Furthermore, the form of Tim O’Mahony at centre-back will also be pleasing to the rebel faithful. Yet, worries still remain for this Cork side.

5. Waterford

Although they were operating in Division 1B this Spring, Waterford were arguably the form team in Ireland heading into the League final after defeating Clare and Galway in the knockout stages. Yet, they looked lost at times in the final, with Limerick’s slick style posing the Déise all kinds of problems.

Under new manager Pauric Fanning, Waterford have made great strides with the likes of Jamie Barron, Austin Gleeson and Stephen Bennett showing signs that they are back to their best. In addition to this, home fixtures in Walsh Park in Munster make Waterford a very dangerous opponent for the coming championship.

6. Tipperary

Tipperary are another team that are difficult to gauge after the League. Back under the tutelage of Liam Sheedy, Tipperary scraped into the last eight of the league before being beaten by Dublin in Semple Stadium.

Sheedy, has experimented quite a bit in the league which saw the team look slightly unsettled at times. A decision must be made on who will take the frees going forward with both Jason Forde and Seamus Callanan holding the honour at different times this spring.

Yet, their quality is undeniable and Tipperary should have a big say come championship time.

7. Kilkenny

Another year of bedding in new players has gone relatively well for Brian Cody. New talents have been integrated across the pitch in the absence of the Ballyhale Shamrocks contingent who secured another All-Ireland title on St Patricks day.

The fear of playing Kilkenny is now gone but Cody may well use this to his advantage as Kilkenny enter the Leinster championship looking for a first title in three years with Cody never going longer without the championship during his incredible term in charge.

With TJ Reid, Richie Hogan, Cillian Buckley, Walter Walsh and Padraig Walsh at their disposal, Kilkenny should not be overlooked

8. Dublin

On any other year, Dublin would be celebrating a highly successful league campaign that saw them finish top of Division 1B and losing in the semi-final by only three points to the All-Ireland champions. However, the new League structure for 2019 somewhat dampens this achievement.

Yet, with Mattie Kenny now in charge, Dublin have shown signs of improvement with the form of Eoghan O’Donnell at full-back, Sean Moran at no.6 and the return to form of Danny Suthcliffe a cause for great optimism in the capital.

9. Wexford

This ranking may be harsh on a Wexford team that reached the knockout stages of the league while the likes of Cork and Kilkenny didn’t. And while there’s no doubt strides have been made under Davy Fitz, Galway’s second half demolition of them in the league quarter-final doesn’t bode well for the side.

They haven’t won a Leinster championship since 2004 and their last All-Ireland triumph came in 1996. However, as Limerick demonstrated last year, records are made to be broken.

10. Carlow

Alongside Limerick, Carlow are the easiest team to rank on this list. They have undoubtedly made massive progress over the last number of years as have their football team. However, they are still heavy favoutites to be relegated back to the Joe McDonagh cup for 2020, a competion they won last year.

Having retained their Division 1 status for next year, anything else this year can be counted as a bonus for the Leinster side. Their draw with Galway in the league hints to potential in the Leinster championship but is still highly unlikely.