Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Laois are the talk of the hurling world at this point in time but the landscape is expected to change in the coming weeks when Kilkenny and Tipperary enter the championship fray.

1. Colm Callanan (Galway)

Galway scored a morale lifting Leinster SHC quarter-final replay victory over Dublin last Saturday in Tullamore but things might have turned out different had Callanan not made a brilliant stop to deny Colm Cronin a goal in the drawn encounter.

2. Noel Connors (Waterford)

The Deise are on a roll and former All-Star defender Connors has helped lay the foundations for their league success and march to the Munster decider. He held the upper hand over Cork's Pat Horgan in the league decider and last weekend in Semple Stadium.

3. Cahir Healy (Laois)

What a difference a week makes in hurling. Laois were supposedly in turmoil following the departure of manager Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett but all is now rosy in the O'Moore County garden following their long overdue championship victory over neighbours Offaly.

4. Padraic Mannion (Galway)

While his brother Cathal is grabbing all the headlines up front, Padraic is keeping things tight in the Tribesmen's defence. He successfully curbed the influence of Dublin danger man Mark Schutte in the O'Connor Park replay.

5. Tadhg de Burca (Waterford)

The versatile defender from Clashmore has emerged as a player to be reckoned with. And, at just 20 years of age, the best is yet to come. He is a prime example of the young talent at manager Derek McGrath's disposal.

6. Austin Gleeson (Waterford)

The same can be said for Gleeson. The Mount Sion prodigy has returned to his 2013 All-Ireland minor winning half-back roots after announcing his arrival on the senior inter-county stage with a wonder goal against Cork 12 months ago.

7. Tom Condon (Limerick)

Limerick's Mr Consistent who never lets the side down. The Shannonsiders put their disappointing Division 1B league campaign behind them when sending Clare packing and the Knockaderry man  played a starring role in the thrilling one point win.

8. Kevin Moran (Waterford)

Waterford's reversal in fortunes is not solely down to the injection of new blood into the panel. The likes of captain Moran and Michael 'Brick' Walsh have been around the block and are setting the standard for their younger team-mates.

9. Aidan Harte (Galway)

The Gort clubman struck late to send the Tribesmen's Leinster SHC quarter-final against Dublin to a replay and Anthony Cunningham's charges grabbed their second chance with both hands. Harte's appetite for hard graft was a key ingredient in their winning formula against the Dubs.

10. Willie Hyland (Laois)

A regular on the Laois hurling squad for the past 10 years, Hyland delivered a 'man-of-the-match' performance as they emerged from Offaly's shadow last Sunday. After scoring seven points against the Faithful County, the Clough/Ballacolla clubman now turns his attention to Galway.

11. Pauric Mahony (Waterford)

Prior to his season ending injury, Mahony had the hurling world at his feet. The Deise celebrated a third ever league success and their centre-forward finished the campaign as overall joint top-scorer, alongside Cork's Patrick Horgan, with a tally of 1-90.

12. Richie Hogan (Kilkenny)

Despite the Cats' struggles in Division 1A, Hurler of the Year Hogan continued where he left off last year. As Brian Cody puts the finishing touches to their preparations for their Leinster SHC semi-final against Wexford, the Danesfort dynamo is in top form.

13. Cathal Mannion (Galway)

Three goals in the opening 10 minutes last Saturday from the 20-year-old effectively hammered the nail into Dublin's Leinster SHC coffin. Galway's man of the moment raised three white flags in the stalemate at Croke Park six days earlier.

14. Seamus Callanan (Tipperary)

The Tipperary powerhouse finished the league campaign in fourth place on the leading scorer chart with an individual tally of 3-45. The Limerick defence will have to be on their toes when they come up against him and his Premier County team-mates at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday week.

15. Cian Lynch (Limerick)

A star was born on Sunday, May 24 in Semple Stadium. The Patrickswell teenager, a nephew of Limerick legend Ciaran Carey, was a deserving recipient of the Hurler of the Month Award for May following his eye-catching championship debut against the Banner County.

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