After all the hype of September now dying down, it is time for the majority of intercounty teams to reflect on the year's performance and look at ways of improving for next term. Time for some county boards, supporters and even players to look for change at management level and there is already evidence of this in Tipperary with Ken Hogan losing out and been replaced by none other than Babs Keating . Tipperary are a very proud hurling county and the lack of success is hurting hard in the Premier County and particularly with their Rebel neighbours doing so well. Kilkenny are happy with Brian Cody for another year and I am sure he has been told that the Cats cannot allow Cork win a three-in-a-row next year. Clare's performance in the semi-final has put a new spring in the step for a lot of the older players and more importantly Anthony Daly will now believe that he has got it right in the preparation and selection of his team. Onwards up the Shannon the Tribesmen will be upbeat about their championship campaign and with the success of their U21 and minors, they have a lot of talent at their disposal. Limerick too can build on their performance against Kilkenny but like most other teams in the country they need more physical presence upfront to give them a better scoring ability. What about the Deise, is there still the appetite and desire to go that extra step for glory? They are still a very good team but will not be recognised as a great team until the Liam McCarthy has passed through the hands of a Waterford man - it will not be for the want of trying though! Wexford have given youth its chance and rightly so as now is the time to build on this and blend it with the experienced heads who have been through it all before. And what about Offaly? There is no doubt that there is a rebuilding process going on there at present but the midlanders love their hurling and as in the past, have been able to put a team together out of nothing and only time will tell if the same can happen next year. Hurling needs more than just a handful of teams competing for the All-Ireland at this stage and many neutrals would like to see a change from the old order winning the Liam McCarthy. Cork are there to be knocked off their perch but it remains to be seen who is going to be the team to do so in 2006? Hurling needs Dublin My wish for hurling to go forward is for Dublin to make their presence felt. Can you imagine the scene - an 80,000 full house in Croke Park in the Leinster final - Dublin against Kilkenny or one of the other teams in the province? The same for the All-Ireland semi-final and bring on the final - Cork v. Dublin. Believe me when I say that the game needs it, the whole country needs it. I honestly believe the work being put in at grassroots level and underage over the last few years is beginning to pay dividends in the capital. Very strong performances at minor and U21 level this year show that improvement has taken place, while Kilmacud Crokes winning Feile Na Gael premier section has to be a huge boost for the underage structure in Dublin. They must build on this now but more importantly, the huge passion and interest in the game in the capital must be capitalised on. I would set up a separate hurling board within the county and I know this might have repercussions on the football side but there has to be room for everyone. How many times have we heard of good hurlers not playing the game because of football? There is only one way to sort this and that is to appoint a figure head like Kevin Heffernan who would have the respect of everyone concerned and bring in Nicky English, or someone who has a big grasp of the hurling scene presently, alongside him. I am sure this would make people sit up and take notice and more importantly it would excite the players. Enough said - it is time to move on before someone takes me too seriously. Club Championships The next couple of weeks will be hectic for those who have won their respective county championships but that is a good complaint to have. James Stephens of Kilkenny and Newtownshandrum from Cork are the two teams being fancied at this early stage to contest the club final if they do not meet along the way. But at this time of year anything can happen as conditions will be difficult and there could be a surprise here yet before Christmas is over. For the player who does not make an intercounty squad this is the next best thing. A day in Croke Park in March - there is nothing like it. Roll out the Honours for 2005 My player of the year would be John Gardiner closely followed by Jerry O'Connor and the young player of the year would go to Galway's Ger Farragher. My Team of the year would be as follows: Donal Og Cusack (Cork), Pat Mulcahy (Cork), Diarmuid O'Sullivan (Cork), Gerry Quinn (Clare), Derek Hardiman (Galway), John Gardiner (Cork), Sean Og O'hAilpin (Cork), Paul Kelly (Tipperary), Jerry O'Connor (Cork), Ben O'Connor (Cork), Seamus Prendergast (Tipperary), Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny), Eoin Kelly (Tipperary), Brian Corcoran (Cork), Ger Farragher (Galway). Tweet

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