Who is leading the contenders heading into the 2024 Allianz Hurling League? There's not much change in the top order, but a fresh brush for many sides in the lower tiers.
DIVISION 1A
Clare
Manager: Brian Lohan
Year: Five
Notes: As he enters a fifth year in charge, Brian Lohan has opted to shake his backroom team up as he attempts to discover the final few ingredients to take Clare to the top of the pile.
Two-time Banner All-Star Brendan Bugler is in, as is Adrian O'Brien, with the pair also set to work with the county's under-20s. Ken Ralph remains as a selector from last term, but Seán Treacy and James Moran depart as coaches.
Former Clare hurler Tommy Corbett is another man into the team while Lukasz Kirszenstein, who worked with Tipperary and Galway in their 2016 and '17 All-Ireland successes, has been drafted in to look after the S&C.
Lohan’s term has been extended to 2025, so he has at least another two seasons in charge.
Cork
Manager: Pat Ryan
Year: Two
Notes: Pat Ryan enters year two of his initial three-year term and enthusiasm is growing in the Rebel County.
They went unbeaten in the Division 1A group stage before losing the semi-final to Kilkenny and although they didn’t make it through the group stage in Munster, the final table didn’t tell the full story.
Cork lost twice, but by a single point to Clare and Limerick. Indeed, two late scores in the latter would have secured a provincial final spot and ended the Treaty County’s season altogether.
No new additions to the backroom team for Ryan.
Kilkenny
Manager: Derek Lyng
Year: Two
Notes: Derek Lyng starts the second season of this three-year term after a promising first campaign in the post Brian Cody world.
Lyng was ratified for another year back in October, with selectors Peter O’Donovan, Michael Rice, Peter Barry and Conor Phelan continuing in their roles.
Hogan: Kilkenny can end Limerick's dominance
The Cats made it to both national finals last year, losing to Limerick on both occasions by 11 points (AHL) and nine points (All-Ireland SHC) respectively. They did lead that Liam MacCarthy decider by five points seven minutes into the second half, so maybe they’re not as far off the Treaty County as those final scorelines suggest.
Richie Hogan and Pádraig Walsh have stepped away, but Walter Walsh has committed for another term.
Offaly
Manager: Johnny Kelly
Year: Two
Notes: Offaly hurling has suffered some big setbacks in recent seasons, but Johnny Kelly has come in and steadied the ship.
They played some brilliant hurling last year in the league to secure a return to Division 1, although the Joe McDonagh Cup final loss to Carlow was a disappointment. Their All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final championship-record defeat to Tipp, when they conceded seven goals, was a real low though.
No place to hide this year, with league games against the likes of Kilkenny, Cork and Clare to come, and it will give a good indication of where they are at.
Brendan Maher, Colm Callanan, Barry Teehan and Martin Maher remain in the backroom team.
Waterford
Manager: Davy Fitzgerald
Year: Two
Notes: An undeniably difficult first season in charge for Davy Fitzgerald as the Déise lost their first three games in Munster to exit the group stages early before salvaging some pride against Tipperary. They were at a slight disadvantage with Walsh Park being out of action but they will have that back for their home championship ties with Tipperary and Cork.
Bad news on the player front with the brilliant Austin Gleeson opting to take a year out as he tries to rediscover his drive, but the likes of Kieran Bennett and Ian Kenny are set to come back on board.
Fitzgerald is now into the second year of the two-year term handed to him when he returned to the Déise hot-seat, but there is the option of a third.
"I won’t take anything personal. I’m used to getting battered over the last few years and that’s fine, work away. I’m f**king going no place," he said after hitting out at "one or two clowns" he claimed were laughing at him on the sideline as the Banner beat them in Munster. He’ll aim to back those words up in the coming months.
Wexford
Manager: Keith Rossiter
Year: One
Notes: Former Wexford player Keith Rossiter replaces Darragh Egan in the job and at just 39, he will be one of the youngest managers on the inter-county hurling scene.
He guided the Model County’s U20 team to successive Leinster finals and previously served as a selector with their senior hurlers from 2017 to 2021.
Offaly man David Franks is lead coach, Wexford legend Damien Fitzhenry is goalkeeping coach while another former Model goalkeeper, Éanna Martin, is also part of the new-look team.
Frank Flannery had been brought in as skills coach but has since had to withdraw due to work commitments.
DIVISION 1B
Antrim
Manager: Darren Gleeson
Year: Five
Notes: Darren Gleeson extended his term at the end of the 2022 season to bring him to the end of 2024, with an option to continue in 2025 as well.
That's not surprising as the Saffrons have made good strides forward under his watch and with Corrigan Park set for three games out of five in both the Allianz League and the Leinster championship, they’ll be aiming to take a few scalps.
The former Tipperary goalkeeper has told RTÉ Sport that he has retained the same management team for the new campaign, so there is a sense of continuity there.
Their battering ram of an attacker Domhnall Nugent is taking the year out though as he tries to let his body recover from a series of injuries while they have lost the services of key Dunloy quartert Eoin O'Neill, Ryan Elliott, Seaan Elliott and Keelan Molloy who plan to travel.
Dublin
Manager: Micheál Donoghue
Year: Two
Notes: It’s as you were for Micheál Donoghue and the Dublin hurlers with last year’s coaching team remaining in place.
It’s the second instalment of a three-year term, and they’ll be hoping for better after their heavy SHC quarter-final loss to Clare. They conceded four first-half goals in the 18-point defeat at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Donal Burke had surgery on a serious hamstring injury days after that loss, but he hopes to be fit for the new season.
Dara Purcell is a player who could really push on this season in attack while youngsters like Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing will also be hoping to make their mark too.
Galway
Manager: Henry Sheffllin
Year: Three
Notes: Henry Shefflin is back for a third year with Galway and the noises from the west suggest that there is an appetite for him staying there for a good while yet.
After a brilliant showing against Limerick in the semi-final in 2022 – the Tribe falling just short – the side looked like they had taken a step back as they lost to the same opposition by nine points at the same stage this season.
In truth, no team would have lived with the hurling Limerick played after a sleepy 25 minutes that saw them trail by six points.
WHELAN: OVERBURDENED STUDENTS BEING DRRIVEN AWAY FROM GAME
To help close the gap, Eamon O’Shea has been brought into the management team. O’Shea was coach when his native Tipperary won All-Ireland titles in 2010 and ‘19, so he knows his stuff. His son Donal is currently a member of the Galway senior panel, which added another incentive to link up with Shefflin.
Limerick
Manager: John Kiely
Year: Eight
Notes: John Kiely is preparing for an eighth season in charge of Limerick having accumulated five All-Ireland titles in that period. Only six more to go to catch Brian Cody...
At times last year, it looked like the chasing pack was closing the gap, but the silver still headed to the Treaty County.
HICKEY: TALK OF FIVE FORBIDDEN IN TREATY DRESSING ROOM
Ahead of the new season, Kiely has decided to freshen things up. Joe O’Connor, the team’s former S&C coach, returns as a high-performance coach while John Flavin is in as a coach having worked with the manager at U21 level.
Paul Kinnerk, Donal O'Grady, Aonghus O'Brien and Alan Cunningham remain in place from last season.
Tipperary
Manager: Liam Cahill
Year: Two
Notes: There was a blow for Liam Cahill following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign as Pádraic Maher decided to opt out of the management team.
Maher had to withdraw due to work commitments but Michael Bevans, Declan Laffan and TJ Ryan remain in place from last season.
Cahill announced his first Tipp panel in November 2022, but he has opted to delay the process this term with a squad now set to be revealed in January instead to give them more time to access players.
Their league season starts with a trip to Parnell Park to face Dublin on 3 February. They topped Division 1B last season before losing to Limerick in the semi-final.
Westmeath
Manager: Joe Fortune
Year: Three
Notes: The 2023 campaign was an interesting one for Westmeath as Joe Fortune led them to one of their most famous results, the Leinster win over Wexford, despite having trailed by 17 points at one stage.
A round-five loss to Antrim meant that they were still relegated though, so the boss will see plenty to improve on.
The management team is basically the same as last term, although there is one notable addition.
Conor Clifford, who has worked with the Dublin hurlers and footballers in the past, comes in to cover the S&C. Richie Flynn does exit though to link up with new Wexford minor manager Michael Jacob.
DIVISION 2A
Carlow
Manager: Tom Mullally
Year: Three
Notes: A busy off-season once again for Mullally as he took Kildare side Naas to the Leinster semi-final, where they were edged out by Dublin’s Na Fianna.
No major changes to report with Carlow as the same management team get set for what they hope will be a big year after 2023's Joe McDonagh success.
Their Division 2A campaign didn’t go the best, losing three times including by 14 points to Kildare in round one.
Their response was admirable though, topping the McDonagh group stage before winning an extra-time thriller over Offaly in the final.
The Scallion Eaters face a difficult league opener as they travel to Tralee to take on Kerry but will be aiming for a better 2A campaign this year.
Down
Manager: Ronan Sheehan
Year: Six
Notes: Ronan Sheehan is one of the longest-serving hurling managers in the game but he has continually brought in coaches in various years in order to freshen things up.
For 2024, that honour falls to Trevor Fletcher, who was manager as Shinrone claimed a first Offaly title last season. He stepped down after this year’s final defeat to Kilcormac-Killoughey.
Down have been moving upwards under Sheehan, although they had a trickier 2023. They have a good young squad there and will be hoping for better next season.
Kerry
Manager: Stephen Molumphy
Year: Two
Notes: "I said it inside [the dressing room]. It has been an honour to be manager of the Kerry team and it would be an honour again...we’ll see what happens."
When Stephen Molumphy said those words at the end of their 2023 Joe McDonagh campaign, a disappointing championship that ended with a heavy defeat to Laois, it seemed like it could be the end of the road.
However, although his initial two-year term was over, Molumphy is back for another shot.
Waterford’s Molumphy and his backroom team took in a lot of club championship action this season, and he’ll feel that they are not too far away.
Former Limerick defender Paudie O’Brien joins as a defensive coach.
Laois
Manager: Willie Maher
Year: Two
Notes: Year two of the Willie Maher project and the players will see some changes in the backroom team.
Dan Shanahan, a high-profile appointment last year, departs to join Ken McGrath’s Waterford U20 ticket while Eamonn Jackman remains in place from last season.
There are a couple of additions with Brian Horgan, like Maher a Tipp man, and Michael Connolly coming into the set up.
Laois were relegated from Division 1 last year and missed out on a spot in the Joe McDonagh Cup final by a single point.
Meath
Manager: Seoirse Bulfin
Year: Two
Notes: First years don’t tend to go much better as Bulfin led the Royals to double glory with the Division 2B title and the Christy Ring Cup.
He used 41 players in all with 12 enjoying their debuts, and that should benefit the Leinster side in the long run.
The likes of Laois, Carlow and Down mean that a stiff league challenge awaits, but the Royals will be glad to have the challenge.
Kildare
Manager: Brian Dowling
Year: One
Notes: A switch of codes for Brian Dowling as after leaving the Kilkenny camogie team in July having led them to two All-Ireland titles, he quickly linked up with the Lilywhite hurlers – replacing the outgoing David Herity, another former Kilkenny player.
Nigel O’Hara will accompany Dowling as coach and selector having been part of Herity’s backroom team. Tipperary’s Richie Ruth is also a coach and selector as is Fiachra Ó Muíneacháin, who will also work with the goalkeepers. Rory Fleming is in charge of the S&C.
DIVISION 2B
Derry
Manager: Johnny McGarvey
Year: Two
Notes: After a messy first season in charge, Lavey’s Johnny McGarvey will be glad of a clean run at pre-season to get his troops ready for the 2024 campaign.
Last season, Dominic McKinley and Cormac Donnelly were initially back on board for 2023 before stepping away, leading to McGarvey’s appointment in January – meaning the squad were already starting from behind.
McGarvey has told RTÉ Sport that the same coaching team remains from last year, so much-needed stability is the name of the game.
Donegal
Manager: Mickey McCann
Year: Seven
Notes: Despite dropping a few hints over the last couple of seasons that he was ready to move on, Mickey McCann is back for another run at it, a seventh season in all.
He was ratified at the start of the December with the squad, or most of it, meeting up to discuss their aims and goals for 2024.
There will be a bit of added excitement given the performances of Setanta over the last 12 months. Having won the Ulster Junior title in late 2022, they moved up a grade and won there too earlier this month.
London
Manager: Neil Rogers
Year: One
Notes: Kevin McMullan had been expected to remain in charge for another season, but that wasn’t to be and Neil Rogers has stepped into the breach in what is a fairly late appointment.
Rogers captained St Gabriel’s to a London title in 2018 before taking over the following season and knows the scene well.
There are still additions to be made to his backroom team, but one man who will be there is former Offaly goalkeeper Eoin Kelly, who also represented the Exiles at inter-county level.
Roscommon
Manager: Kevin Sammon
Year: One
Notes: Kevin Sammon has been handed a two-year term after replacing the outgoing Seamus Qualter.
Sammon has worked with Broadford in Kildare and O’Callaghan Mills in Clare in the past, leading the latter to their first-ever Junior A title.
Clare’s Steve Cusack and Kevin McNamara and Limerick’s Tommy Moloney form part of his backroom team.
Tyrone
Manager: Stephen McGarry
Year: One
Notes: The Antrim native is moving from number two to the top job having previously been part of Michael McShane’s backroom team.
Another part of last year’s panel is on the move too with Sean Óg Grogan joining the coaching staff having recently retired while John Devlin has also been recruited. Caolan Harvey returns as strength and conditioning coach having taken a year out to go travelling. Noel Brick, Aidan McHugh and Colm Thomas remain from McShane’s tenure.
Wicklow
Manager: Casey O’Brien
Year: Two
Notes: Casey O’Brien returned for a second spell in charge of Wicklow in 2023 and things work out pretty well.
They reached the Division 2B semi-final, losing out narrowly to Donegal, but gained revenge over the Ulster side by defeating them in the Nickey Rackard Cup final.
O’Brien can call on the same backroom team as last year, with Leighton Glynn, Graham Keogh, Billy Cuddihy and John Barrie still involved.
DIVISION 3A
Armagh
Manager: Karl McKeegan
Year: Two
Notes: Karl McKeegan is back for a second year in charge of the Orchard County and he has added one of last year’s players to his management ticket.
Eoin McGuinness, who announced his retirement at the end of last season, comes on board having been a hugely respected part of the dressing room for so long.
As well as McGuinness, Nathan Curry has stepped away having made his debut all the way back in 2008.
The side lost out in the Division 3A final last year to Roscommon and will be hoping to go one step further.
Cavan
Manager: Ollie Bellew
Year: Two
Notes: When Ollie Bellew returned for a second stint in charge of the Breffni hurlers last year, they opted to form an extended group with the U20s meaning their managers Michael Boyle and Pat O’Flaherty were added to the senior coaching team.
For 2024, the teams have decoupled, but Bellew will be able to call on his usual right-hand man, Galway’s Tomás Mannion.
The side claimed the Division 3B title last year, but a one-point loss to Leitrim in the Lory Meagher group stage prevented them from having a shot at the double.
Louth
Manager: Trevor Hilliard
Year: One
Notes: Paul McCormack spent five years at the Wee County helm and brought silver into the trophy cabinet, and new boss Trevor Hilliard will be hoping to follow his lead.
Louth native Hilliard represented the county in the past and went on to both play for and manage Monaghan.
Paddy McArdle joins as a coach/selector, Diarmuid Murphy will act as selector while Eimear Kelly will take up the role of S&C coach having spent last season with the Wicklow footballers under Oisín McConville.
Mayo
Managers: Ray Larkin and Brian Finn
Year: One
Notes: Larkin and Finn replace Dave McConn and Tom Phillips and have been handed a two-year term to try and revive Mayo’s fortunes.
Galway native Larkin led Tooreen hurling club to the All-Ireland Intermediate hurling final earlier this year while Finn has taken care of Mayo’s U20s and Celtic Challenge team for the past two seasons.
Former Galway hurler Nigel Shaughnessy will act as head coach while former Carlow player Stephen Sheil is also involved.
Monaghan
Manager: Arthur Hughes
Year: Three
Notes: Arthur Hughes and his entire management team is back, and that’s really no surprise given they won their first All-Ireland hurling title last year when they defeated Lancashire in the Lory Meagher Cup final.
It’s up to the Nickey Rackard Cup for 2024 while they will be looking for another good league performance after reaching the Division 3A semi-final last time out.
Castleblayney remain in the All-Ireland Junior series after a sensational late show over British side Sean Treacy’s, so a large chunk of the panel remain committed to the club for now.
Sligo
Manager: Stephen Sheil
Year: One
Notes: A new man in Sligo as Stephen Sheil replaces Padraig Mannion in the hot-seat.
The former Carlow player and Westmeath minor manager will be able to call on coach Seamus Qualter, a former Turloughmore and Galway hurler, who previously managed Westmeath, Roscommon and the Ireland shinty/hurling team, for support.
Ex-Tipperary intermediate and Mayo player Donal O'Brien is also part of the set-up.
DIVISION 3B
Fermanagh
Manager: Joe Baldwin
Year: Five
Notes: Joe Baldwin is back on board for another season with a few changes in his backroom team.
Steven Poacher, more noted for his football coaching, steps away after a season and in comes the pair of Daithí Hand and Peter Galvin, who previously managed Sligo together.
The duo enjoyed plenty of success in the Yeats County, most notably helping the team to the 2019 Nickey Rackard Cup just a year after lifting the Lory Meagher Cup.
The Erne County were relegated from Division 3A last season, but their losses were by two points (Monaghan), one point (Louth) and one point (Armagh).
Lancashire
Manager: Liam Óg Knocker
Year: Two
Notes: A very late appointment last year, but Antrim native Liam Óg Knocker is back on board for a second term with Lancashire.
The coaching team of James Aherne and Richie Barry are back on board, while Ronan Walsh of Fullen Gaels has come on board also.
The 2023 season was a good one for the side as they made the Lory Meagher final, narrowly losing to Monaghan, but as is the case most years, their panel has changed a lot with players returning to Ireland. Approximately 10 of last year’s squad will not be involved in 2024.
Leitrim
Manager: Olcan Conway
Year: Five
Notes: Much of Olcan Conway’s off-season has been centered around the news that Leitrim were facing possible league exclusion from 2025 onwards, but the matter was resolved - for the time being anyway.
Last season was a case of nearly but not good enough. They lost the Division 3B final by a point to Cavan and a very competitive Lory Meagher group saw them finish fifth out of six, yet only one point off a final spot.
A new backroom team has been formed with Alan O’Shea and David Needham coming in.
Longford
Manager: Adrian Moran
Year: Three
Notes: After a fairly lacklustre 2023 campaign, Westmeath native Adrian Moran is confident that Longford hurling can get back on track with the adult clubs in the county rowing in behind strongly for the year ahead.
Frank Aughey will act as his coach next year with Clive Beatty on board as a selector/coach and Denis Coen as performance coach. David Kennedy is in charge of S&C, James Flynn is on stats and Alan Wade and Darragh Moran are the kitmen. Enda Leonard is looking after nutrition.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire, managed by Steve Ahern in 2023, are yet to confirm their management team for the year ahead.
CONNACHT HURLING LEAGUE
New York
Manager: Richie Hartnett
Year: Two
Notes: Richie Hartnett is back for another season with the side again set to compete in the Connacht Hurling League in what they hope will be the pre-cursor to Lory Meagher inclusion.
Micheal O'Mahony has been helping out with the side but isn’t coming to Ireland, but alongside Hartnett for the trip he will have Eamon Fitzgerald (coach), Tommy Kavanagh (selector), Eugene Kyne (selector/stats), Mike Hynes (selector), David McNamara (S&C) and Ciara O’Neill (physio).
