Carlow

Last year: Lost vs. Derry, All-Ireland Qualifiers 2nd Round.

First game: vs. Louth, June 12.

What the manager says? “There’s something in the psyche of a ref that favours the stronger county.” — Luke Dempsey, March 2010

What’s on the dressing room iPod? The Only Way Is Up – Yazz

Supporters are most likely to say? We’ll be happy just to beat Louth.

Verdict: It’s shaping up to be another short summer for Luke Dempsey’s men. “The Scallion Eaters” can take heart from a league campaign in which they won four times and narrowly failed to gain promotion out of the league’s bottom tier – but they are in Division Four for a reason. With only three Leinster Championship wins under their belt since the turn of the century, it would be a huge shock if they could beat last year’s provincial finalists in their opening game.

Dublin

Last year: Lost vs. Cork, All-Ireland SFC semi-final

First game: vs. Longford or Laois, June 5

What the manager says? “I was a Dublin supporter myself and I thought Dublin had to win the All-Ireland every year when I was one, so that’s totally understandable. That expectation is out there, you just have to get on with it.” — Pat Gilroy

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Under Pressure - Queen and David Bowie

Supporters are most likely to say? This is our year. No, seriously.

Verdict: Is this finally to be the year of the Dubs?  It certainly seemed that way for most of the spring until the nerves crumbled once again during the Division One final against Cork. Forget about Leinster – manager Pat Gilroy knows that his whole year has been building up to one (or two, if they’re lucky) key games in the latter stages of this year’s Championship. With a raft of young players emerging to assist Bernard Brogan, Dublin certainly seem to have the talent to go all the way. But have they got the bottle?

Kildare

Last year: Lost vs. Down, All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

First game: vs. Wicklow, May 22.

What the manager says? “A couple of years ago injuries to the likes of Dermot Earley, Daryl Flynn and Johnny Doyle would have crippled us. But, no, four or five players have done well, such as Hughie Lynch, who did well in the league and will hopefully give us a stronger panel for the championship.” — Kieran McGeeney

What’s on the dressing room iPod? (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!) – Beastie Boys

Supporters are most likely to say? There’s a new kid in Leinster now.

Verdict: Despite a rather uninspiring league campaign, last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists deserve respect. Kieran McGeeney’s men find themselves on the harder side of the draw in Leinster this year, knowing that they will most likely have to beat Division Two rivals Meath and Leinster favourites Dublin if they are even to make it as far as the provincial decider. Last year’s success in the All-Ireland qualifiers means that particular route will cause little worry if that is the path the Lillywhites ultimately find themselves on.

Laois

Last year: Lost vs. Tipperary, All-Ireland Qualifiers 1st Round.

First game: vs. Longford, May 22.

What the manager says? “So far, it’s been a successful season, but it’s still early days. This is where the real stuff starts.” —  Justin McNulty

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Dancing With The Big Boys – David Bowie and Iggy Pop.

Supporters are most likely to say? On our day, we can put it up to most teams.

Verdict: Rookie boss Justin McNulty has instilled a great sense of belief in the O’Moore’s this season. Promotion from a competitive Division Two is a fitting reward for season in which Laois won five out of seven before losing to Laois in the divisional final. Leinster victory in 2003 is now a distant memory but this time around, they will justifiably feel that last year’s Championship conquerers Meath and Tipperary, and others of their ilk, are beatable.

Longford

Last year: Lost vs. Down, All-Ireland Qualifiers 2nd Round.

First game: vs. Laois, May 22.

What the manager says? “Winning silverware is good but it’s more important to meet your goals. We’d set our stall out to try and get promoted first and then, when we got to a final, to win it and we did both so that’s the most important thing.” — Glenn Ryan

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Little by Little – Oasis.

Supporters are most likely to say? A lot done, more to do.

Verdict: Down around Pearse Park, there is a growing sense that Longford’s footballers are slowing starting to do things in the right way. With the U21s reaching the Leinster final and the seniors winning Division Four, the Larries certainly aren’t short of reasons to be cheerful. Glenn Ryan will be the first to admit that it will be another couple of years before his side can make any real waves in Leinster but any further signs of improvement, no matter how small, will be welcomed with open arms.

Louth

Last year: Lost vs. Meath, Leinster final; lost vs. Dublin, All-Ireland Qualifiers 4th Round.

First game: vs. Carlow, June 12.

What the manager says? “Mentally, all that is long since over and done with, we’re nearly a year older and more mature.” — Peter Fitzpatrick on last year’s Leinster final versus Meath.

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Daylight Robbery – Imogen Heap

Supporters are most likely to say? Bad decisions even themselves out in the long run, right?

Verdict: After the controversial scenes which marred the end of last year’s Leinster final against Meath, have the gods of the GAA attempted to even matters out by handing Louth a favourable run this time around? With Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Meath all on the other side of the bracket, it certainly looks that way. Having brought the Division Three title back to Cusack Park, Peter Fitzpatrick will be hoping to replicate last season’s Championship run though the Wee County are unlikely to go much further.

Meath

Last year: Leinster Champions; Lost vs. Kildare, All-Ireland semi-final.

First game: vs. Kildare or Wicklow, June 5.

What the manager says? “One good game doesn’t make you a great team but a couple of bad ones doesn’t make you a bad team.” – Seamus McEnaney

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Mr. Brightside – The Killers

Supporters are most likely to say? Forget about all that league nonsense – when can we beat the Dubs again?

Verdict: After watching Seamus McEnaney’s men struggle to survive in Division Two this year, it feels very strange to describe Meath as Leinster Champions. That they are, though the glory of last summer was little more than a distant memory when spring rolled around. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the Royals’ provincial prospects are closely tied to the performances of the man who has been the county’s  standout player in recent years, wing-forward Graham Reilly. A potential semi-final date against old rivals Dublin should tell us all we need to know about Meath in 2011.

Offaly

Last year: Lost vs. Down, All-Ireland Qualifiers 3rd Round.

First game: vs. Wexford, May 28.

What the manager says? “We have set our targets a lot higher than last year, so we’re really looking forward to the Championship.” — Tom Cribbin

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Rolling in the Deep – Adele

Supporters are most likely to say? It’s all about the bounce of the ball.

Verdict: Following four wins and three losses in Division Three, Tom Cribbin will be optimistic that his side can put it up to many of their provincial opponents on their day. Westmeath, Louth and Wexford – all of whom are divisional rivals – find themselves on the same side of the draw as the Faithful. Though Louth were the only team of the three which Offaly managed to beat, narrow defeats against the others could realistically be overturned if Cribbin’s men hit form.

Westmeath

Last year: Lost vs. Derry, All-Ireland Qualifiers 2nd Round.

First game: vs. Wexford or Offaly, June 12.

What the manager says? “We’re going in the right direction, and you also have to remember we have a large number of young and inexperienced lads who have come into the team and really taken to National League football. That’s very encouraging for Westmeath.” – Pat Flanagan

What’s on the dressing room iPod? What’s Going On? – Marvin Gaye

Supporters are most likely to say? We’ll soon be back to our best.

Verdict: Another side for whom a decent run in the qualifiers is the most optimistic forecast. A decent Division Three campaign yielded four wins out of seven and ended in promotion for Pat Flanagan’s men and the boss will surely look to captain Denis Glennon to lead from the front again this summer. Likely to find at least three or four better than them in the province.

Wexford

Last year: Lost vs. Cork, All-Ireland Qualifiers 3rd Round.

First game: vs. Offaly, May 28.

What the manager says? “These players as a group are very good at moving on and building again if something doesn’t work out; this is a group who take their knocks, dust themselves down and fix themselves up very quickly again. They are not a group that ever feels sorry for themselves” — Jason Ryan

What’s on the dressing room iPod? DARE – Gorillaz

Supporters are most likely to say? I reckon we’ve a sneaky shot at winning Leinster this year.

Verdict: One of the province’s more impressive sides in recent years, Wexford will hope to assert themselves as the best of the bunch on the “easy” side of the draw. If the disappointment of missing out on promotion to Division Two on the final day of the league season still casts a pall, Jason Ryan’s men might do well to reflect on the promise of last year’s Championship in which they took Dublin to extra-time and scalped a sub-par Galway in the qualifiers. Clever running and creative attacking play should see them continue to make plenty of scoring chances.

Wicklow

Last year: Lost vs. Cavan, All-Ireland Qualifiers 1st Round.

First game: vs. Kildare, May 22.

What the manager says? “There’s only the one competition that matters in the GAA and I don’t have to tell you what it is. It’s the championship, and if you don’t perform in the championship, what difference does it make if you are first, second, third or fourth division? How you perform in the championship is how you are judged.” – Mick O’Dwyer

What’s on the dressing room iPod? Light My Fire – The Doors

Supporters are most likely to say? Are we still in Division Four?

Verdict: Judging by some of their better Championship performances in recent years, Wicklow are hardly a Division Four side. Four draws this term cost them any chance they might have had at escaping, but with a bit of defensive reinforcement, they shouldn’t be there for too much longer. The most powerful weapon in the Lilywhites’ armory has to be their gaffer – if anyone can get the best out of this panel and inspire them to play above their collective ability, it’s Mick O’Dwyer. Don’t bet against them stringing together a few results in the qualifiers.