Hurling Rankings: how does your county rate?
July 31, 2013
The field of dreams in Croke Park
1. CORK (up 5)
Since their relegation from Division 1A of the Allianz League last April, the Rebels have been a team transformed. They whipped Clare in the Munster semi-final and may well have beaten Limerick in the final had Patrick Horgan not been controversially sent off before half-time. Their slaying of All-Ireland champions Kilkenny last Sunday, coupled with their rich hurling tradition, has made them All-Ireland favourites in many people's eyes.
2. LIMERICK (up 5)
The Treaty County put the disappointment of losing the Allianz League Division 1B final behind them by beating Tipperary and Cork to claim their first Munster title in 17 years. John Allen has done a fantastic job with a team that now has real strength in depth for the first time. They're all-Munster All-Ireland semi-final against Clare will be one to savour.
3. DUBLIN (up 5)
The All-Ireland double is very much on for the Dubs thanks to heroics of Anthony Daly's men this summer. Since beating Limerick in April to clinch promotion back to Division 1A of the Allianz League, they've gone from strength to strength to lift their first Leinster title in 52 years. Their seismic championship victories over Kilkenny (after a replay) and Galway makes them serious contenders for Liam.
4. CLARE (up 1)
The Banner are coming to the boil nicely after what has been a very progressive year for Davy Fitzgerald's young side. After retaining their Allianz League Division 1A status at Cork's expense, they beat Waterford before losing to the Rebels in the Munster semi-final. However, they've bounced back with wins over Laois, Wexford and Galway to reach the last four. And you wouldn't rule them out to make the final.
5. KILKENNY (down 4)
Even as recently as their Allianz League final against Tipperary, Kilkenny still looked to be the best team by some distance. But the concession of four goals against Offaly in the first round of the Leinster championship exposed frailties which hadn't been evident before then and their subsequent replay defeat to Dublin may well have been the beginning of the end for this great side. Recovered well to beat Tipp and Waterford, but last Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork was a bridge too far.
6. WATERFORD (down 2)
After narrowly missing out on an Allianz League Division 1A semi-final place, the Deise suffered a further setback when they lost to Clare in the Munster championship. However, they recovered to beat Offaly and Westmeath in the backdoor series before suffering a heart-breaking extra-time loss to Kilkenny. With some excellent young players at his disposal, manager Michael Ryan has plenty to build on next season.
7. TIPPERARY (down 4)
How the mighty have fallen! Defeat to Kilkenny in the Allianz League final and to Limerick and the Cats in the championship meant it was a torrid first year at the helm for Eamonn O'Shea. Tipp have a wealth of talent, but it would seem that far too many of their players - especially in the forward division - have a great dislike for the physical stuff. O'Shea needs to add steel to their game next year.
8. GALWAY (down 6)
What is it about Galway and the second season syndrome? In keeping with a trend which goes back to their last All-Ireland success in 1988, they've followed a good year with a bad one. Since coming within a whisker of winning the Liam MacCarthy Cup last September, they've gone off the boil in a big way, so much so that last Sunday's tame exit at the hands of Clare came as no surprise. It remains to be seen if Anthony Cunningham will be given a third year to revive their fortunes.
9. WEXFORD (up 1)
Liam Dunne's men put a disappointing league campaign behind them with some commendable championship displays. They took Leinster champions-elect Dublin to a replay before beating Carlow and Antrim in the backdoor. They then brought Clare to extra-time and can consider unlucky not to have reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Wexford's Leinster U21 success hints at better times ahead.
10. OFFALY (down 1)
The Faithful were one of the championship's early fallers, which was a great pity after their brave showing against Kilkenny in the Leinster quarter-final. They subsequently succumbed to the brilliance of Maurice Shanahan against Waterford, a defeat which leaves manager Ollie Baker's position in jeopardy. Badly need to secure promotion from Division 1B next season if they're going to improve.
11. LAOIS (up 3)
While their season ended in a crushing defeat to Clare, Laois were a much-improved team under Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett. After capturing the Allianz League Division 2A crown in the spring, they ousted both Antrim and Carlow from the Leinster championship before coming within minutes of shocking Galway. With their minors reaching the Leinster final, the O'Moore's are on the rise again, and that can only be good for hurling.
12. ANTRIM (down 1)
The Saffrons never really got going under Kevin Ryan this year. They only retained their Division 1B status by virtue of a relegation playoff victory over Carlow and struggled for long stages against Westmeath in the Leinster championship before going out to Laois in the next round. Fell at the first hurdle of the qualifiers at the hands of Wexford, but still have one more outing in 2013 against Down in the Ulster final.
13. CARLOW (down 1)
John Meyler's charges beat London in the Leinster championship before losing heavily to Laois in the next round. However, they redeemed themselves with an excellent backdoor display against Wexford which should have yielded a famous victory. A quick return to Division 1B could be on the cards next spring.
14. WESTMEATH (down 1)
Following the double disappointment of losing the Division 2A final and the preliminary round of the Leinster championship to Laois and Antrim respectively, Brian Hanley's men secured a first ever qualifier win at London's expense. They led Waterford at half-time in the next round before fading in the second half.
15. LONDON (up 3)
The Division 2B champions justified their inclusion in the Leinster championship with a decent showing against Carlow. But a wasteful display against Westmeath in the qualifiers cost them dearly in what proved to be Eamonn Phelan's last game in charge.
16. DOWN (up 5)
After finishing in third spot in Division 2B, the Ardsmen got their act together for the Christy Ring Cup and beat Kerry in a dramatic final. They've since reached the Ulster final against Antrim.
17. KERRY (down 2)
A heart-breaking defeat to Down denied the Kingdom their second Christy Ring Cup in three years. They had earlier missed out on a place in the Division 2A final on score difference.
18. DERRY (down 2)
Ger Rogan's men finished in fourth place in Division 2A before losing to Kerry in the quarter-finals of the Christy Ring Cup. They later took Down to a replay in the Ulster championship semi-final.
19. MEATH (down 2)
Cillian Farrell stepped down as manager following the Royals' Christy Ring Cup semi-final replay defeat to Down. They also missed out on league promotion after losing the Division 2B final to London.
20. KILDARE (no change)
After just about retaining their Division 2A status, the Lilywhites went on to reach the semi-finals of the Christy Ring Cup where they were trumped by Kerry.
21. WICKLOW (down 2)
The Garden County lost ground this year by first suffering relegation from Division 2A and then bowing out to Kildare at the quarter-final stage of the Christy Ring Cup.
22. MAYO (no change)
Little joy for the Westerners in the Christy Ring Cup after they had consolidated their position in Division 2B with a win over Armagh and a draw with Roscommon.
23. ARMAGH (up 2)
Neighbours Down ended their Christy Ring Cup and Ulster championship interests after they had retained their Division 2B status at Roscommon's expense.
24. DONEGAL (no change)
The Tir Chonaill men will take their place in the Christy Ring Cup next year after beating Roscommon to land their first Nicky Rackard Cup this year.
25. ROSCOMMON (up 1)
Seamus Qualter's side were relegated in the league, but regrouped for the Nicky Rackard Cup, only to lose the final to Donegal by four points.
26. FINGAL (down 3)
The North Dublin outfit beat Donegal to land the Division 3A title in the spring, but didn't fare so well in the Rackard Cup.
27. LOUTH (no change)
A third-place finish in Division 3A was followed by a Nicky Rackard Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Roscommon for Pat Clancy's charges.
28. TYRONE (up 3)
A big jump for the 2012 Lory Meagher Cup champions on the back of a successful Rackard Cup campaign which saw them contest the semi-final against Roscommon.
29. MONAGHAN (up 3)
After failing to accumulate a single point in their five games in Division 3A, the Farney men had a much better championship campaign which saw them reach a Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final against Donegal.
30. WARWICKSHIRE (up 3)
After managing just a single win in Division 3B, the Exiles turned their fortunes around by claiming an historic Lory Meagher Cup victory at Croke Park.
31. LONGFORD (down 2)
Claimed Division 3B league honours before going on to lose the Lory Meagher Cup final to Warwickshire.
32. SLIGO (down 2)
The Yeats County lost the Division 3B final to Longford and were knocked out of the Nicky Rackard Cup by Monaghan at the quarter-final stage.
33. FERMANAGH (down 5)
They won two games in Division 3A before disappointing in the Meagher Cup.
34. LEITRIM (no change)
The Connacht minnows had a very poor season which saw them finish their Division 3B campaign with just one point and then concede a walkover to Warwickshire in the Meagher Cup. Tweet
