Where’s Liam MacCarthy off to in September?
Adrian Russell
It’s one of the most open championships in years but Tipperary and Kilkenny must be the most likely winners, as is usually the case. I’ll go with Eamon O’Shea’s Premier.
Niall Kelly
I said Tipperary at the start of the year so I’d better stick with it.
Paul Hosford
Tipp. They have the experience and some excellent players coming through.
Steve O’Rourke
I feel like I have to say Kilkenny because they always seem to, but I’m not sure they’ll cope with the wave of retirements. Cork (mind-bogglingly inconsistent) and Clare (all about Davy) probably rule themselves out, which leaves Tipperary, after getting so close last year, to swoop in and take the title.
Fintan O’Toole
Tipperary. The arrival of a bunch of young players has enhanced their squad and, if they go the direct route, Eamon O’Shea’s tenure can have the perfect swansong.
Eoin O’Callaghan
This is very tough. Tipperary would seem the likely choice, especially given the transition in Kilkenny. Tipp have a nice Munster draw — they should get past Limerick or troubled Clare in the semis, before meeting Waterford or Cork in the decider. It could be an all-Munster final, although it’d be ridiculously naive to write off the Germans… I mean the Cats.
Jackie Cahill
Tipperary. Having come so close last year, and with this being Eamon O’Shea’s last season in charge, the Tipp players will be desperate to reward their departing manager with silverware. And the direct route is the best way to go for Tipp, rather than through the back-door.
Sean Farrell
I’m writing off Kilkenny at my peril. They’ll slide all the way down to second-best team in the country by September. Tipperary will, as Cookie Lyon would say, get what’s theirs at last.
Will Slattery
Tipperary were desperately unlucky not to win the final last year, and forwards like Seamus Callanan and Patrick Maher were unplayable. Eamon O’Shea will leave the job as an All-Ireland champion.
Who’ll take the provincial honours in Munster and Leinster?
Adrian Russell
Munster: Tipp, but the Munster Championship has the makings of a classic.
Leinster: Dublin to shock Kilkenny.
Niall Kelly
Munster: Tipperary.
Leinster: Call me crazy but I think those lads from Kilkenny might sneak in under the radar.
Paul Hosford
Munster: Tipperary.
Leinster: Kilkenny.
Steve O’Rourke
Munster: Tipperary.
Leinster: Dublin.
Fintan O’Toole
Last year’s All-Ireland finalists to claim silverware…
Munster: Tipperary.
Leinster: Kilkenny.
Eoin O’Callaghan
Munster: Tipperary.
Leinster: Kilkenny.
Jackie Cahill
Munster: Tipperary.
Leinster: Dublin. Their league form was most impressive but they need to learn the lessons from blowing a 12-point lead in the semi-final against a Cork side that was shown to have serious flaws in the final loss to Waterford.
Sean Farrell
Munster: Cork.
Leinster: Kilkenny.
Will Slattery
Munster: So tough to call but I’ll stick with Tipperary… reluctantly.
Leinster: Kilkenny might have lost some key men but they are still a class apart.
This year’s surprise package will be…
Adrian Russell
Ger Cunningham will steer Dublin into August and Clare will underline their class once again.
Niall Kelly
Considering they were the defending All-Ireland champions 12 months ago, Clare seem to have completely disappeared off everyone’s radar — probably because they’ll have to go through both Limerick and Tipperary just to get to a Munster final. They still have a panel brimming with talent though, so I wouldn’t rule out a Davy-led renaissance.
Paul Hosford
Limerick will get a head of steam and make the last four.
Steve O’Rourke
Do Dublin count as a surprise package anymore? Maybe an All-Ireland final appearance would be considered a surprise.
Fintan O’Toole
Given last year’s early July exit, Clare can enjoy a better time in 2015 and make the last four.
Eoin O’Callaghan
Galway. Many forget how close they came to beating Kilkenny in Leinster last year, and they were competitive in all of their Division 1 league games this season. A quarter-final win over Dublin could give them some momentum, while suffering elimination in early-July last year will surely spur them to ensure a last-eight berth at least.
Jackie Cahill
Wexford have been really quiet since losing to Waterford in that Division 1B promotion shootout. They made steady progress last year and Liam Dunne will be anxious to build on that with another solid championship season.
Sean Farrell
With such a small pool of teams to choose from it’s difficult for one to be seen as a surprise, but let’s mark Limerick down for an All-Ireland semi-final.
Will Slattery
Dublin showed promise under Ger Cunningham in the league… but also some old failings. It will be interesting to see if they can run the top teams closer than they did against Tipp last year.
Who’ll be the Hurler of the Year?
Adrian Russell
“Well, it was a tough decision, but we’re going for Seamus Callanan of the Drom-Inch club, who’s hurled a world of ball, Ger.”
Niall Kelly
If I’m tipping Tipp for the All-Ireland, I should probably stick with one of their lads — John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer.
Paul Hosford
Pádraic Maher.
Steve O’Rourke
Pádraic Maher. How has he not won one yet?
Fintan O’Toole
Pádraic Maher. He’s grown into a colossal force in the Tipperary side.
Eoin O’Callaghan
Seamus Callanan.
Jackie Cahill
Pádraic Maher. The Tipperary bulwark enjoyed a fantastic league campaign, even though the Premier County didn’t make the final. He won’t be moved out of centre back for the foreseeable future and flanked by brother Ronan and newcomer Michael Breen, this is a pivotal line in the Tipp team.
Sean Farrell
Seamus Callanan.
Will Slattery
Patrick Maher has matured into a hurler capable of grabbing the game by himself and making things happen. He’ll do it regularly this season.
This summer I expect to see…
Adrian Russell
Jim White to interview Cheddar Plunkett on the Morning View.
Niall Kelly
A nation falling in love with hurling over and over again.
Paul Hosford
A better championship than 2014, but not as good as 2013.
Steve O’Rourke
At least one photo of a hurler with a dreadful injury who played on because that’s what hurlers do.
Fintan O’Toole
A riproaring Munster Championship, with all five teams having legitimate claims they can enjoy glory.
Eoin O’Callaghan
Donal Og Cusack to dazzle viewers of The Sunday Game with his sartorial elegance.
Jackie Cahill
Another glorious campaign, reminiscent of 2013. Clare and Limerick will feel they can emerge from the pack to challenge Tipp and Kilkenny, and Waterford would have had a serious chance but the feeling is that Pauric Mahony’s injury will dent their challenge. Without wishing to sound too clichéd, it really is ‘wide open’ but Tipp appear to have the edge.
Sean Farrell
At least three more incredibly tense HawkEye moments.
Will Slattery
Davy Fitzgerald’s time in Clare to come to an end after a heartbreaking championship defeat… and then we get a load of tell-all pieces describing life in the gulag.
