Limerick captain Cian Lynch lifts the cup after the Allianz Hurling League Final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
There’s every reason to expect that the 2024 Allianz Hurling League will be a very keenly contested one.
That’s because the final placings will determine what division teams will play in when the competition is restructured for the 2025 campaign.
In 2025 a seven-team Division 1A will consist of the top three teams in Division 1a and 1b this year as well as the fourth placed team from Division 1a or Division 1b with the best record.
Division 1B in 2025 will consist of the remaining four placed Division 1a or 1b team, the teams finishing fifth and sixth in Division 1a and Division 1b this year, and the winners and runners-up of Division 2a.
Division 2 in 2025 will consist of the teams that finish third, fourth, fifth, and sixth in Division 2a this year and the teams that finish first, second, and third in Division 2b.
Division 3 in 2025 will consist of the teams that finish fourth, fifth, and sixth in Division 2b this year and the teams that finish first, second, third, and fourth in Division 3a.
While Division 4 in 2025 will consist of the remaining seven teams which will be the bottom two in Division 3a this year plus the five teams currently in Division 3b.
Chairperson of the Central Competitions Control Committee, Derek Kent, said last December he hopes the new structure from 2025 will put “a bit of life back into the Leagues because it had lost its sparkle.
“If you're in Division 1, you certainly don't want to be relegated to Division 2,” said Kent. “If you're a Cork or a Clare or a Tipperary, you don't want to go down.
“And if you're down in the lower division, you have to look at your competition and your gate receipts. That will give a life to stay in Division 1; it will also give life to stay in Division 2, as opposed to Division 3.”
For those reasons every division of the Allianz Hurling League should have an extra frisson of competition this year, but perhaps especially Divisions 1a and 1b because the heavy-hitters will all want to be part of the seven-team Division 1a in 2025.
Ahead of this weekend’s Round 1 fixtures, we cast our eye over all the 12 teams in Divisions 1A and 1B who will be vying to be one of the magnificent seven.
Clare may use the League to run the rule over players who could cover for central defensive stalwarts John Conlon, right, and Conor Cleary, centre, if required.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1a
CLARE
Manager: Brian Lohan (fifth season)
Player to watch: Mark Rodgers
Young Hurler of the Year in 2023, Scariff clubman Mark Rodgers has all the tools to establish himself as one of the very best inside-forwards in the country in the coming couple of years.
Team priorities: Clare have looked vulnerable whenever their two central defensive totems, John Conlon (34) and Conor Cleary (30), have been unavailable through injury. Both men are in their thirties now and Clare really need to start developing viable alternatives in these positions. John Conneely, who played at full-back for the Clare U-20s last year, is one likely candidate.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Cork, Cusack Park, 1.45pm
February 11: v Waterford, Walsh Park, 1.45pm
February 25: v Wexford, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 3.45pm
March 10: v Kilkenny, Cusack Park, 1.30pm
March 17: v Offaly, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.45pm
CORK
Manager: Pat Ryan (second season)
Player to watch: Shane Barrett
Now in his fourth season with the Cork senior hurlers, Shane Barrett has enough experience banked to deliver on his obvious potential to become a key player in the Cork attack. A fast, skilful, accurate forward, he’s coming off a stellar club campaign with Blarney.
Team priorities: Cork are bringing through a generation of very talented young hurlers and Pat Ryan will be keen to give game-time to players like Ethan Twomey, Ben Cunningham, Pádraig Power, Brian Roche, and Brian Hayes to further accelerate their development.
League Fixtures:
February 4: v Clare, Cusack Park, 1.45pm
February 10: v Kilkenny, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm
February 25: v Waterford, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.45pm
March 10: v Offaly, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.15pm
March 17: v Wexford, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1.45pm.
KILKENNY
Manager: Derek Lyng (second season)
Player to watch: Billy Drennan
Top-scorer in last year’s Allianz League, Drennan then suffered an injury which stalled his progress and meant he didn’t feature much in the championship. Expect him to grow further in his second season as a senior inter-county hurler.
Team priorities: Two of the five players that Kilkenny brought on in last year’s All-Ireland Final – Padraig Walsh and Richie Hogan – have since retired and there were already questions about Kilkenny’s bench-impact. That being the case, Derek Lyng will be hoping to unearth a few new faces in this year’s League to build his panel depth.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Wexford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.45pm
February 10: v Cork, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm
February 25: v UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.45pm
March 10: v Clare, Cusack Park, 1.30pm
March 16: v Waterford, Walsh Park, 3pm
Adam Screeney seems set to make his senior debut for Offaly in this year's Allianz Hurling League.
OFFALY
Manager: Johnny Kelly (second season)
Player to watch: Adam Screeney
It would be unfair to place too big a burden of expectation on Adam Screeny in his first season as a senior inter-county hurler, but he was so good for the Offaly U20s last year you couldn’t blame Offaly supporters for being excited about his potential.
Team priorities: Johnny Kelly will be keen to use the League to blood graduates from the team that reached last year’s All-Ireland U-20 Final such as Screeney, Dan Ravenhill, Brecon Kavanagh and Dan Bourke to name just some.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Waterford, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 2pm
February 10: v Wexford, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5pm
February 25: v Kilkenny, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.45pm
March 10: v Cork, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.15pm
March 17: v Clare, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.45pm
WATERFORD
Manager: Davy Fitzgerald (second season)
Player to watch: Patrick Fitzgerald
The Ballygunner attacker caught the eye in his first senior campaign last year and looks primed to really spread his shoulders this year.
Team priorities: After two disappointing championship campaigns in 2023 and 2022, Waterford badly need to restore some lost confidence so expect Davy Fitzgerald to really target this League campaign to build momentum.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Offaly, Glenisk O’Connor Park, 1.45pm
February 11: v Clare, Walsh Park, 1.45pm
February 25: v Cork, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 3.45pm
March 10: v Wexford, Walsh Park, 3.30pm.
March 16: v Kilkenny, Walsh Park, 3pm.
WEXFORD
Manager: Keith Rossiter (first season)
Player to watch: Cian Byrne
Byrne starred for the Wexford U20 hurlers last year and has already caught the eye in his first year with the seniors during their successful Walsh Cup campaign. A deadly free-taker and very accurate from open-play too, he could bring a new dimension to the Wexford attack.
Team priorities: Newly appointed manager, Keith Rossiter, will use the League campaign to bond together two distinct groups in his panel. A sizeable cohort of veterans in their late twenties and early thirties, and a promising class of graduates from Wexford’s last two U-20 teams.
League Fixtures:
February 4: v Kilkenny, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.45pm
February 10: v Offaly, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5pm
February 25: v Clare, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 3.45pm
March 10: v Waterford, Walsh Park, 3.30pm
March 17: v Cork, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 1.45pm.
Antrim manager, Darren Gleeson, will have to bring through some new faces in 2024 because a number of players have opted out for the year.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1B
ANTRIM
Manager: Darren Gleeson (fifth season)
Player to watch: Eoin McFerran
The Dunloy clubman made his senior debut for Antrim in the Walsh Cup and is a very promising talent. Captain of the Antrim U-20s last year, he’s comfortable playing in midfield or the half-forward line.
Team priorities: With players like Eoin O’Neill, Ryan Elliott, Seaan Elliott, Keelan Molloy, Domhnall Nugent, and Joe Maskey unavailable this year, the 2024 League could be a challenging one for Antrim. The priority will be to blood new players who can fill the breach left by those who have departed the panel.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Limerick, FBD Semple Stadium, 2pm
February 11: v Dublin, Corrigan Park, 1.45pm
February 25: v Galway Corrigan Park, 1pm
March 9: v Westmeath, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 3pm
March 16: v Tipperary, Corrigan Park, 3pm.
DUBLIN
Manager: Micheál Donoghue (third season)
Player to watch: Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing
Ó Dúlaing is a promising young forward. He scored 25 points in four Leinster U-20 games last year and in his second year as a member of the senior panel should get a decent run of games.
Team priorities: Dublin don’t score enough as a team to challenge for silverware so improving their return in front of the posts will surely be Micheál Donoghue’s priority in the League. They need to be become less reliant on Donal Burke in attack.
League fixtures:
February 3: v Tipperary, Parnell Park, 2.30pm
February 11: v Antrim, Corrigan Park, 1.45pm
February 24: v Limerick, Croke Park, 5.15pm
March 10: v Galway, Pearse Stadium, 1.30pm
March 17: v Westmeath, Parnell Park, 1.45pm.
GALWAY
Manager: Henry Shefflin (third season)
Player to watch: Donal O’Shea
An outstanding underage hurler for Galway, O’Shea is now in his second year on the senior panel. An out and out forward at minor and U-20 level, he’s now starting to feature at midfield. A hugely skilful player, if he could blossom it would give Galway a much needed additional scoring outlet.
Team priorities: Galway are still quite dependent on veterans of the All-Ireland winning team of 2017 for inspiration. They need the cohort of players now coming into their mid-twenties to really take on a greater burden of leadership.
League fixtures:
February 3: v Westmeath, Pearse Stadium, 2pm.
February 11: v Tipperary, FBD Semple Stadium, 3.45pm
February 25: v Antrim, Corrigan Park, 1pm
March 10: v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 1.30pm
March 17: v Limerick, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 1.45pm
Cathal O'Neill will hope to go from super-sub to nailed on starter with the Limerick hurlers in 2024.
LIMERICK
Manager: John Kiely (eight season)
Player to watch: Cathal O’Neill
Cathal O’Neill made a huge impact off the bench for Limerick in last year’s championship. He’s good enough to become a nailed on starter in the team this year.
Team priorities: A total of just 18 players started for Limerick in their four All-Ireland titles in row so the team is relatively unchanged in that period. John Kiely will demand that some of the younger players in the panel put the veterans under intense pressure to hold onto their places in the team in 2024.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Antrim FBD Semple Stadium, 2pm
February 11: v Westmeath, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm.
February 24: v Dublin, Croke Park, 5.15pm.
March 9: v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 7.35pm
March 17: v Galway, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 1.45pm
TIPPERARY
Manager: Liam Cahill (second season)
Player to watch: John McGrath
The Loughmore-Castleiney man has been bedevilled by injury in recent years but has a full pre-season under his belt and is looking sharp. If the 29-year-old can get back to his best it’ll be a major boost for the Tipp attack.
Team priorities: Tipperary’s rebuild will continue apace under Liam Cahill. They need more punch in attack and he’ll be hoping that players like Gearóid O’Connor and Conor Bowe will develop further given more game-time in the League.
League fixtures:
February 4: v Dublin, Parnell Park, 2.30pm
February 11: v Galway, FBD Semple Stadium, 3.45pm
February 24: v Westmeath, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm
March 9: v Limerick, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 7.35pm
March 16: v Antrim, Corrigan Park, 3pm
WESTMEATH
Manager: Joe Fortune (third season)
Player to watch: David O’Reilly
The Castletown Geoghegan man looks like a really promising forward. He’s physically powerful with an eye for a score and should make an impact for the Lake County this year.
Team priorities: Joe Fortune will surely blood a few graduates from the strong Westmeath U-20 team that pushed Wexford all the way last year. Injuries to key players last year hurt them badly, so they need strengthen the depth of their panel.
League fixtures:
February 3: v Galway, Pearse Stadium,
February 11: v Limerick, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm
February 24: v Tipperary, FBD Semple Stadium, 4pm
March 9: v Antrim, TEG Cusack Park, 3pm
March 17: v Dublin, Parnell Park, 1.45pm.