Kilkenny's latest All-Ireland triumph keeps them at the top of our leader board. However, there have been some changes to the pecking order since our last hurling rankings in the middle of August.

1. KILKENNY (no change)

The old order has been restored following the Cats' 35th All-Ireland victory. They inflicted more pain on old rivals Tipperary to edge another thrilling contest and give Henry Shefflin his record-breaking 10th Celtic Cross.

Love them or loath them, Brian Cody's men are a class act and are worthy champions once again.

They also captured Allianz League and Leinster SHC titles this season to complete the clean sweep.

2. TIPPERARY (up 2)

From the ashes of last May's Munster SHC semi-final defeat to Limerick, Tipp rose to reach the All-Ireland final on the back on victories over Galway, Offaly, Dublin and Cork. They were mere inches away from beating Kilkenny on September 7 before losing the replay by three points.

Eamon O'Shea is adamant that this Tipperary team will win All-Ireland titles in the future, and you wouldn't bet against it.

3. LIMERICK (up 1)

Limerick hurling followers are tired of moral victories but they couldn't help but be proud of their players' efforts in the narrow All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat to Kilkenny. With a little bit of luck, the Shannonsiders could have reached the final.

They relinquished their Munster SHC crown, but the County Board acted quickly to appoint TJ Ryan as manager on a three-year basis and they appear to be heading in the right direction.

4. CORK (down 2)

Cork top brass are anxiously awaiting a decision from manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy regarding his future after a bitterly disappointing loss to Tipperary in August's All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Very few had seen a defeat of that magnitude coming after impressive victories over Waterford (after a replay), reigning All-Ireland champions Clare and Limerick in a triumphant Munster campaign.

If JBM steps down, they could lose much of the momentum that has seen them appear in two All-Ireland semi-finals and two All-Ireland finals (including replay) in the last three years.

5. WEXFORD (no change)

There was no fairytale ending for Liam Dunne and Wexford following their heroics against Clare and Waterford as they ran out of steam against Limerick in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.

They did, however, succeed in proving they will be a force to be reckoned with in coming years and have targeted a strong showing in next year's Leinster SHC. Another Leinster U21 title in the bag and the future looks bright for the Model County.

6. CLARE (no change)

The Banner County's crown may have slipped but Davy Fitzgerald has been handed a further three years at the helm and expect a backlash from them in 2015.

They fell a long way short of the high standards they set themselves when claiming the county's fourth All-Ireland success 12 months ago and failed to win a championship fixture, losing to Cork and Wexford. But the future has rarely looked brightly following a third All-Ireland U21 triumph on the trot.

The decision to end dual players has had an immediate impact with Podge Collins declaring himself for the footballers. It will be interesting to see how that plays out next year.

7. GALWAY (no change)

Galway hurling is stuck at a crossroads. They gave Kilkenny their fill of it in the Leinster SHC semi-final before losing out in the replay and exited the qualifiers at the hands of Tipperary on a scoreline of 3-25 to 4-13. When you add in their close call against Laois, it was a year to forget for the Tribesmen.

Anthony Cunningham has been handed another three years as manager and is under pressure to deliver silverware.

8. DUBLIN (no change)

Never mind the results, the fact that Dublin failed to perform in both the Leinster final against Kilkenny and the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Tipperary is a source of major disappointment. A Leinster semi-final victory over Wexford is all the Metropolitans have to show for their championship efforts in 2014.

After the highs of last year's long overdue provincial success, they now find themselves without a manager following Anthony Daly's decision to step down after six seasons.

9. WATERFORD (no change)

Waterford raised their game to force a replay with Cork in their Munster SHC opener but played second fiddle second time around. They accounted for Laois in the qualifiers but disappointed when making their exit to neighbours Wexford next day out.

It was a big challenge for manager Derek McGrath who will be expected to reverse the downward spiral in 2016. He has some fine young hurlers to work with, though.

10. LAOIS (no change)

Seamus 'Cheddar' Plunkett's charges transferred their positive league showing into championship, where they mounted another great challenge to only just fall short against Galway, 1-22 to 0-23. A qualifier defeat to Waterford followed but it has been another year of progress on the hurling front for the O'Moore County.

11. OFFALY (no change)

Brian Whelahan's charges gained revenge for their league relegation play-off to Antrim when knocking the Saffrons out of the qualifiers (2-19 to 1-20) in Ballycastle. Heavy defeats to Kilkenny and Tipperary rubbed salt into Faithful County wounds, however, and there are not too many managers who would be willing to trade places with the Millennium man at the moment.

12. ANTRIM (no change)

Four wins out of four in the Leinster qualifier group stage gave Kevin Ryan's side hope, but a 5-19 to 0-21 defeat to Wexford in the Leinster quarter-final stopped them in their tracks. Offaly finished off the job in the first round of the qualifiers before the Saffrons stuttered to a one-point Ulster SHC final victory over Derry.

13. CARLOW (no change)

Carlow had little difficulty in qualifying for the Division 2A final but fell to Kerry in the decider. The Barrowsiders' focus then moved to the Leinster qualifier group stage but defeats to Laois, Antrim and a draw with London meant they failed to progress. John Meyler has since been replaced as manager by Pat English.

14. KERRY (no change)

An unblemished Division 2A league campaign saw the Kingdom take the honours. An unlucky defeat to Offaly ended their promotion hopes and, despite coasting through to the Christy Ring Cup final, they lost out in the decider for the second year in succession, this time to Kildare.

15. DERRY (no change)

Ger Rogan's charges' Christy Ring Cup campaign came to an end at the quarter-final stages at the hands of Kildare, 2-16 to 0-10, but they ran Antrim to a point in the Ulster decider.

16. WESTMEATH (no change)

A very disappointing Division 2A league was followed by a Leinster championship campaign which saw Brian Hanley's men only manage one win at London's expense. Their only saving grace is that they secured their Liam McCarthy Cup status for next year with a win over Christy Ring Cup winners Kildare before Hanley stepped down.

17. LONDON (no change)

London managed to hold onto their Division 2A status but with no wins in the Leinster championship qualifiers group the Exiles had little to cheer about this year.

18. KILDARE (no change)

The Lilywhites surrendered their Division 2A status after securing just one point yet, in a remarkable turnaround, went on to win the Christy Ring Cup with a fantastic triumph over a fancied Kerry side.

19. WICKLOW (no change)

Casey O'Brien's charges defied the odds to secure a quick return to Division 2A after defeating Down in the Division 2B decider. The Garden County, who have been boosted by Leighton Glynn's decision to concentrate solely on hurling next year, brought eventual winners Kildare to a replay in the early stages of the Christy Ring Cup before falling to Mayo in the quarter-final.

20. DOWN (no change)

Down, who are on the lookout for a new manager, lost out to Wicklow in the Division 2B league final after winning all five of their divisional games. The defending Christy Ring Cup champions didn't enjoy a good championship campaign, however, and had to beat Armagh in the relegation play-off to preserve their championship status for next season.

21. MEATH (no change)

Meath once again fell short in their efforts to escape Division 2B of the league and a comprehensive 1-18 to 0-13 defeat to Kildare in the semi-final of the Christy Ring Cup brought their season to a close. Killian Farrell has since stood down and it will be interesting to see who replaces him as manager.

22. MAYO (no change)

The Westerners were the fourth-placed team in Division 2B and lost out to Kerry in the semi-final of the Christy Ring Cup. There is work needed but the Mayo men will take solace from their championship victory over promotion winners Wicklow.

23. ARMAGH (no change)

2014 brought little cheer for Armagh. They surrendered their Christy Ring Cup status but managed to stay in Division 2B of the Allianz League thanks to a playoff victory over Fingal.

24. FINGAL (no change)

Fingal, after winning promotion from Division 3A last year, have been sent back where they came from. Their fall from grace was compounded by a narrow loss to Tyrone in the Nicky Rackard Cup final, who played their league campaign two levels below the North Dublin outfit.

25. TYRONE (no change)

Tyrone won promotion from Division 3B, beating Leitrim in the final, and rounded off a terrific year when they landed the Nicky Rackard Cup with a one-point win over Fingal.

26. DONEGAL (no change)

The Tir Chonaill men followed up their Division 3A league final win over Roscommon with an emphatic 2-16 to 0-8 triumph over Fingal to gain promotion. Overall, a successful year, despite failing to reach the heights of last year's Nicky Rackard Cup success.

27. ROSCOMMON (no change)

The Rossies topped the Division 3A league table but failed to make the ascent after losing to Donegal in the decider. Their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign ended in disappointment.

28. MONAGHAN (no change)

The Farney won two games in Division 3A, including a four-point win over table toppers Roscommon. But they were unable to make any impact in the Rackard Cup.

29. FERMANAGH (no change)

A mid-table Division 3A league finish was swiftly followed by a good Lory Meagher Cup run which saw them fall at the final hurdle to Longford, 3-18 to 3-16.

30. LONGFORD (no change)

The blow of relegation from Division 3B was softened by the Lory Meagher triumph over Fermanagh.

31. LOUTH (no change)

The Wee County avoided demotion from Division 3A before failing to make an impression in the Nicky Rackard Cup.

32. LEITRIM (no change)

The Connacht side have come on since last year and were unlucky to miss out on promotion from Division 3B of the Allianz League.

33. WARWICKSHIRE (no change)

Warwickshire endured a disappointing Division 3B campaign which yielded just one victory. Their defence of the Meagher Cup was equally disappointing.

34. SLIGO (no change)

The Allianz League tables don't lie and things went from bad to worse when Sligo were relegated from the Nicky Rackard Cup to the Lory Meagher Cup for next season.

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