A division where a majority of counties are under new management, Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League involves seven teams. But with two gaining promotion to 1A, and two dropping down to Division 2, it promises to be cutthroat.
On paper, Dublin and Waterford are the clear favourites to end up in the top two places, but with new managers taking over in Ireland's oldest cities, this competition might well prove to be a time for chopping and changing of players ahead of the beginning of the provincial championships for both counties in April.
The Dubs and the Déise aren't the only counties with a new figure in the dugout and Davy Fitzgerald's appointment in Antrim is sure to put the cat amongst the pigeons, both on and off the field.
Of the other four counties involved, which two are likely to face relegation at the end of March?
Carlow come into 2025 having spent spent last year amongst the big boys in Leinster, achieving an outstanding draw with Kilkenny at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Offaly, who'll replace them in the eastern province this year, are a county heading in the right direction with the crowd at last year's All-Ireland U20 triumph over Tipperary suggesting a tribe who are desperate to see a return to the glory days at senior level of the 1980s and 1990s.
Laois, under new manager Tommy Fitzgerald, were beaten by the Faithful in last year's McDonagh final, but they're capable of putting some wins together and they'll have to do so to avoid being sucked into a battle to avoid the drop.
Westmeath, who beat Wexford in the Leinster Championship in 2023, were out of contention for a place in the McDonagh final after game week two last summer. Can they find some of the form they showed earlier in the decade with the arrival of Seoirse Bulfin?
The beauty of such a tight competition is that most teams will feel they can challenge for promotion if they can put a couple of wins together, but the threat of the drop won't be far away if forms slips for a week or two.
Antrim
2024 league: Sixth in Division 1 Group B
2024 championship: Fifth in Leinster SHC round-robin
Manager: Davy Fitzgerald (first year in charge)
Squad news: The new era in the north east will begin without Conor McCann, who confirmed his retirement, after 14 seasons in the Saffron, before Christmas.
Fitzgerald would love to have the services of Neil McManus once more, but the Antrim shirt that he hung up at the end of the 2023 campaign isn't coming back down, for now.
Prospects: As with any new manager taking over, Fitzgerald will aim to really get to know his players over the course of the late winter and early spring ahead of the start of the Leinster Championship in April.
That said, when in charge of Wexford, he prioritised getting the Yellowbellies up to the top flight in the league, so as to give them the toughest possible preparation for championship.
There's no reason to think that he won't want to do something similar with Antrim, especially when a poor league campaign last year with Waterford was ultimately followed by disappointment in the Munster Championship.
Prediction: Third
Carlow
2024 league: Gained promotion after finishing top of Division 2A
2024 championship: Relegation from Leinster Championship
Manager: Tom Mullally (fifth year in charge)
Squad news: Jack Kavanagh and Conor Lawlor have called it a day with the Barrowsiders but there was some better news with the return of Ted Joyce.
Prospects: Carlow gained promotion from Division 2A in the league last year, and followed it up with relegation from the Leinster Championship following a final day defeat against Antrim.
Their target over the next few weeks has to be to stay ahead of the chasing and look to avoid finishing in the bottom two. It's a big ask but an achievable one for the Leinster men.
Prediction: Fifth
Dublin
2024 league: Fourth in Division 1 Group B
2024 championship: All-Ireland quarter-finalists, Leinster finalists
Manager: Niall Ó Ceallacháin (first year in charge)
Squad news: There was a huge blow for the new Dubs manager with the decision from Eoghan O'Donnell to opt for football in 2025. The Whitehall man is considered to be one of the best hurling defenders in the country.
Limerick native Brian Ryan, who won an All-Ireland club hurling title under Ó Ceallacháin last weekend, is set to be part of the Metropolitans squad this season.
Prospects: The beginning of a new reign, or not, Dublin will expect to be challenging for a top-two spot in the division, having reached the All-Ireland quarter-final last summer.
The season really petered out for the Sky Blues with a trouncing in the Leinster final, before being comfortably seen off by Cork in the last six.
Ó Ceallacháin's preparations have been less than ideal owing to him guiding Na Fianna to All-Ireland glory last weekend, so he'll have to plug into his inter-county mindset very quickly.
Prediction: First
Offaly
2024 league: Sixth in Division 1 Group A
2024 championship: Joe McDonagh Cup champions, All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finalists
Manager: Johnny Kelly (third season in charge)
Squad news: There have been no retirements from the Faithful County over the winter months, although hot prospect Adam Screeney will miss the early rounds of the league.
The challenge for Kelly and his management team is to continue to integrate an exciting cohort of players who have been involved in the last two U20 All-Ireland finals, winning last year's title.
Prospects: As Joe McDonagh Cup champions, Offaly can look to Dublin and Antrim as sides they might target to take points off of if they want to push for promotion. That said, consolidation in the second tier would offer a good confidence booster ahead of their return to the Leinster Championship.
Prediction: Fourth
Laois
2024 league: Division 2A champions
2024 championship: Joe McDonagh Cup runners-up, All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finalists
Manager: Tommy Fitzgerald (first year in charge)
Squad news: Fitzgerald, steeped in O'Moore County hurling having spent 14 seasons with the county, will be working with a similar panel to the one available this predecessor Willie Maher.
Prospects: It was a disjointed offseason for the O'Moore men as Darren Gleeson agreed to take over as manager, only to have to step back before being involved for a single game due to a diagnosis of cancer.
Tommy Fitzgerald has stepped up in difficult circumstances as the midlanders look to repeat the form that saw them gain league promotion last spring, before reaching the McDonagh Cup final during championship time.
It'll looks like being a dogfight between the bottom three counties, with only one being able to retain their status into next year.
Prediction: Sixth
Waterford
2024 league: Fifth in Division 1 Group A
2024 championship: Fourth in the Munster round-robin
Manager: Peter Queally (first season in charge)
Squad news: Austin Gleeson has made himself available for selection for 2025, which is a huge boost for the Déise. He won't be around for the early round of the league however and nor will Tadhg de Búrca, Darragh Lyons or Conor Prunty, who are all out injured.
But Queally is set to be without four more key players for the league, at least. Colin Dunford, Jack Fagan, Calum Lyons and Neil Montgomery have all signalled their intention to stay away from inter-county hurling in 2025.
Prospects: Like Dublin, Waterford will expect to be in the promotion conversation as they look to build confidence and momentum under a new manager.
The big target for the Munster men will be a top three-spot in the province - for the first time ever - so all of the work in the league will be geared towards getting to that point.
Prediction: Second
Westmeath
2024 league: Fifth in Division 1 Group B
2024 championship: Fourth in Joe McDonagh Cup
Manager: Seoirse Bulfin (first season in charge)
Squad news: Cormac Boyle, who led the midlanders to Joe McDonagh success in 2021, has decided to retire.
Prospects: Seoirse Bulfin had shown promise with Meath in 2023, winning the Christy Ring, before stepping away before the start of the Joe McDonagh Cup.
It'll be a big challenge for the Lake County to finish ahead of two other teams off the back of an average enough 2024.
Prediction: Seventh
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