Post by Admin on Dec 22, 2014 8:34:44 GMT
Martin Breheny = Irish Independent - 20th December 2014
For the 10th time in the new Millennium, Kilkenny hurlers are at No 1 but how do the others rate? Here is the 1-33 rankings list
1 Kilkenny 2014: P15, W11, D2, L2 (League and Championship)
Add in three Walsh Cup wins and it leaves Kilkenny with only two defeats from 18 games in what was, quite possibly, their best season of the Brian Cody era. There were times over the years when they were vastly superior to most rivals but that's no longer the case, which demands an even bigger range of qualities. Most counties take a few seasons to renew themselves. Not Kilkenny, who achieve it on the run and with no discernible loss of power.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 2/1; Leinster 8/13; NHL: 15/8
2 Tipperary
2014: P15, W 8, D1, L6
How about this for frustration? Tipperary lost the League final to Kilkenny in extra-time and were denied victory by inches in the All-Ireland final.
Clearly, there's very little between the counties but it's still (or at least is has been) enough to deny Tipp the big breakthrough. Their impressive revival following the Munster semi-final defeat by Limerick has raised supporters' expectations of glory next season but then that has been the case every year.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 7/2; Munster 7/4; NHL 3/1
3 Cork
2014: P11, W7, D2, L2
The collapse against Tipperary came as a total shock after Cork won the Munster title for the first time since 2006. It was a case of one step forward, one step back and only time will tell which was the longer stride.
With the 2015 Munster draw favouring them (they play Waterford in the semi-final), they will be confident of having another good season.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 11/2; Munster 7/4; NHL 7/1.
4 Limerick
2014: P10, W5, D2, L3
They beat Tipperary and ran Kilkenny to two points so they deserve a top-four rating. Ironically, they finished the season on a more promising note than last year when they won the Munster championship before collapsing against Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final. The manner in which they regained momentum after the departure of co-manager Donal O'Grady last April was most impressive, with TJ Ryan doing a splendid job as the main man.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 8/1; Munster 6/1; NHL 8/1
5 Clare
2014: P10, W4, D2, L4
A disappointing year. Their four wins came in the League and were all secured in February-March, leaving the rest of the season largely barren.
Many of the players who were so efficient in 2013 struggled this season and with all opposition double-fired against the defending champions, Clare needed to be better than a year earlier. Instead, they regressed.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 11/2; Munster 9/2; NHL 5/1
6 Galway
2014: P11, W4, D2, L5
Galway's problems remain the same as they have been been for quite some time: an inability to stop the bleeding when a game begins to flow against them.
At their best, they can match anybody but that will only yield something when maintained for long stretches.
Still, they drew with Kilkenny and led Tipperary by six points after 50 minutes in the championship, underlining their qualities during the more productive spells. The challenge is to string more of them together.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 10/1; Leinster 7/2; NHL 10/1
7 Dublin
2014: P9, W4, D0, L5
The pattern continued. Good in 2011; poor in 2012; good in 2013; poor in 2014. The only upswing for Dublin this year was that they retained a place in 1A (via a relegation play-off) before taking a double-tanking from Kilkenny and Tipperary in the championship. The focus next year will very much on Ger Cunningham as he attempts to generate a new impetus.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 16/1; Leinster 6/1; NHL 16/1
8 Wexford
2014: P12, W6, D1, L5
The heavy defeat by Limerick took away some of the gloss but it was still a summer to remember for Wexford as they eliminated Clare and Waterford from the All-Ireland race. It has generated a sense of optimism not felt in Wexford for a long time.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 22/1; Leinster 8/1; NHL 14/1
9 Waterford
2014: P10, W3, D1, L6
Relegated from 1A, their season took another turn for the worst when they surrendered a big lead against Cork in the drawn Munster championship quarter-final. A frustrating year, during which Waterford didn't do themselves justice.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 20/1; Munster 10/1; NHL 20/1
10 Laois
2014: P12, W5, L7
Unlucky not to beat Galway in the Leinster quarter-final, they continue to make progress but face a tough challenge to take it to the next level.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 250/1; Leinster 50/1; NHL 66/1
11 Offaly
2014: P10, W3, D1, L6
A draw with Limerick in 1B was the high point of a barren season which, sadly, underlined just how far Offaly have dropped off the pace.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 150/1; Leinster 50/1; NHL 66/1
12 Antrim
2014: P12, W5, L7
Joining Leinster hasn't worked for Antrim. They have completed their sixth season in the east but are no better off now than pre-2009.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 250/1; Leinster 150/1; NHL 125/1
13 Kerry
2014: P 11, W9, L2
The Division 2A champions were favourites to win the Christy Ring Cup but lost the final to Kildare.
14 Carlow
2014: P 10, W5, D 1, L4
A good league (runners-up in 2A), despite being without the Mount Leinster players for most of the campaign, but a disappointing Leinster campaign.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 500/1; Leinster 300/1
15 Westmeath
2014: P10, W3, D1, L6
They needed a play-off win over Kildare to retain Tier 1 status next year. Why they had to face a play-off to compete in their own provincial championships remains a puzzle.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 750/1; Leinster 500/1
16 London
2014: P 9, W1, D2, L6
Relegated from the Leinster and Liam MacCarthy Cup tiers after finishing bottom of the 'round robin' table.
17 Kildare
2014: P12, W4, D2, L6
Finished bottom of 2A but improved substantially in the Christy Ring Cup which they won for the first time.
18 Derry
2014: P15, W7, D3, L5
Mid-table in 2A; lost to Kildare in Christy Ring Cup semi-final; reached Ulster final, losing to Antrim.
19 Wicklow
2014: P10, W6, D1, L3
Division 2B champions, they drew with winners Kildare in the Christy Ring Cup before narrowly losing the replay.
20 Down
2014: P11, W6, D1, L4
Five straight wins in 2B were followed by a decline during which they won only one of six league, Christy Ring and Ulster SHC games.
21 Meath
2014: P8, W5, L3
Mid-table in 2B, beaten Christy Ring semi-finalists.
22 Mayo
2014: P9, W4, L5
Similar finishes to Meath but lost to the Royals in 2B and Christy Ring Cup games.
23 Tyrone
2014: P7, W7
Won 3B title and later beat higher ranked teams when taking the Nickey Rackard Cup for the first time.
24 Fingal
P10, W3, L7
Dropped out of 2B but did much better in the Nickey Rackard Cup, losing the final by a point to Tyrone.
25 Donegal
2014: P 10, W6, L4
Won the 3A title; lost to Roscommon and Fingal in the Nickey Rackard Cup.
26 Roscommon
2014: P9, W6, L3
Runners-up to Donegal in 3A.
27 Longford
2014: P9, W4,D1,L4
Finished bottom of 3A but recovered well and won the Lory Meagher Cup for the second time.
28 Fermanagh
2014: P9, W5, D1, L3
Runners-up to Longford in the Lory Meagher Cup.
29 Monaghan
2014: P8, W3, L5
Survived in the Nickey Rackard Cup on a play-off with Sligo.
30 Louth
P8, W2, L6
Fifth of six in 3A.
31 Leitrim
2014: P7, W2, L5
Runners-up to Tyrone in 3B.
32 Warwickshire
2014: P6, W2, L4
One win each in league and Lory Meagher Cup.
33 Sligo
2014: P6, L6
The only way is up.
Irish Independent
1 Kilkenny 2014: P15, W11, D2, L2 (League and Championship)
Add in three Walsh Cup wins and it leaves Kilkenny with only two defeats from 18 games in what was, quite possibly, their best season of the Brian Cody era. There were times over the years when they were vastly superior to most rivals but that's no longer the case, which demands an even bigger range of qualities. Most counties take a few seasons to renew themselves. Not Kilkenny, who achieve it on the run and with no discernible loss of power.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 2/1; Leinster 8/13; NHL: 15/8
2 Tipperary
2014: P15, W 8, D1, L6
How about this for frustration? Tipperary lost the League final to Kilkenny in extra-time and were denied victory by inches in the All-Ireland final.
Clearly, there's very little between the counties but it's still (or at least is has been) enough to deny Tipp the big breakthrough. Their impressive revival following the Munster semi-final defeat by Limerick has raised supporters' expectations of glory next season but then that has been the case every year.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 7/2; Munster 7/4; NHL 3/1
3 Cork
2014: P11, W7, D2, L2
The collapse against Tipperary came as a total shock after Cork won the Munster title for the first time since 2006. It was a case of one step forward, one step back and only time will tell which was the longer stride.
With the 2015 Munster draw favouring them (they play Waterford in the semi-final), they will be confident of having another good season.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 11/2; Munster 7/4; NHL 7/1.
4 Limerick
2014: P10, W5, D2, L3
They beat Tipperary and ran Kilkenny to two points so they deserve a top-four rating. Ironically, they finished the season on a more promising note than last year when they won the Munster championship before collapsing against Clare in the All-Ireland semi-final. The manner in which they regained momentum after the departure of co-manager Donal O'Grady last April was most impressive, with TJ Ryan doing a splendid job as the main man.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 8/1; Munster 6/1; NHL 8/1
5 Clare
2014: P10, W4, D2, L4
A disappointing year. Their four wins came in the League and were all secured in February-March, leaving the rest of the season largely barren.
Many of the players who were so efficient in 2013 struggled this season and with all opposition double-fired against the defending champions, Clare needed to be better than a year earlier. Instead, they regressed.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 11/2; Munster 9/2; NHL 5/1
6 Galway
2014: P11, W4, D2, L5
Galway's problems remain the same as they have been been for quite some time: an inability to stop the bleeding when a game begins to flow against them.
At their best, they can match anybody but that will only yield something when maintained for long stretches.
Still, they drew with Kilkenny and led Tipperary by six points after 50 minutes in the championship, underlining their qualities during the more productive spells. The challenge is to string more of them together.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 10/1; Leinster 7/2; NHL 10/1
7 Dublin
2014: P9, W4, D0, L5
The pattern continued. Good in 2011; poor in 2012; good in 2013; poor in 2014. The only upswing for Dublin this year was that they retained a place in 1A (via a relegation play-off) before taking a double-tanking from Kilkenny and Tipperary in the championship. The focus next year will very much on Ger Cunningham as he attempts to generate a new impetus.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 16/1; Leinster 6/1; NHL 16/1
8 Wexford
2014: P12, W6, D1, L5
The heavy defeat by Limerick took away some of the gloss but it was still a summer to remember for Wexford as they eliminated Clare and Waterford from the All-Ireland race. It has generated a sense of optimism not felt in Wexford for a long time.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 22/1; Leinster 8/1; NHL 14/1
9 Waterford
2014: P10, W3, D1, L6
Relegated from 1A, their season took another turn for the worst when they surrendered a big lead against Cork in the drawn Munster championship quarter-final. A frustrating year, during which Waterford didn't do themselves justice.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 20/1; Munster 10/1; NHL 20/1
10 Laois
2014: P12, W5, L7
Unlucky not to beat Galway in the Leinster quarter-final, they continue to make progress but face a tough challenge to take it to the next level.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 250/1; Leinster 50/1; NHL 66/1
11 Offaly
2014: P10, W3, D1, L6
A draw with Limerick in 1B was the high point of a barren season which, sadly, underlined just how far Offaly have dropped off the pace.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 150/1; Leinster 50/1; NHL 66/1
12 Antrim
2014: P12, W5, L7
Joining Leinster hasn't worked for Antrim. They have completed their sixth season in the east but are no better off now than pre-2009.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 250/1; Leinster 150/1; NHL 125/1
13 Kerry
2014: P 11, W9, L2
The Division 2A champions were favourites to win the Christy Ring Cup but lost the final to Kildare.
14 Carlow
2014: P 10, W5, D 1, L4
A good league (runners-up in 2A), despite being without the Mount Leinster players for most of the campaign, but a disappointing Leinster campaign.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 500/1; Leinster 300/1
15 Westmeath
2014: P10, W3, D1, L6
They needed a play-off win over Kildare to retain Tier 1 status next year. Why they had to face a play-off to compete in their own provincial championships remains a puzzle.
2015 odds: All-Ireland 750/1; Leinster 500/1
16 London
2014: P 9, W1, D2, L6
Relegated from the Leinster and Liam MacCarthy Cup tiers after finishing bottom of the 'round robin' table.
17 Kildare
2014: P12, W4, D2, L6
Finished bottom of 2A but improved substantially in the Christy Ring Cup which they won for the first time.
18 Derry
2014: P15, W7, D3, L5
Mid-table in 2A; lost to Kildare in Christy Ring Cup semi-final; reached Ulster final, losing to Antrim.
19 Wicklow
2014: P10, W6, D1, L3
Division 2B champions, they drew with winners Kildare in the Christy Ring Cup before narrowly losing the replay.
20 Down
2014: P11, W6, D1, L4
Five straight wins in 2B were followed by a decline during which they won only one of six league, Christy Ring and Ulster SHC games.
21 Meath
2014: P8, W5, L3
Mid-table in 2B, beaten Christy Ring semi-finalists.
22 Mayo
2014: P9, W4, L5
Similar finishes to Meath but lost to the Royals in 2B and Christy Ring Cup games.
23 Tyrone
2014: P7, W7
Won 3B title and later beat higher ranked teams when taking the Nickey Rackard Cup for the first time.
24 Fingal
P10, W3, L7
Dropped out of 2B but did much better in the Nickey Rackard Cup, losing the final by a point to Tyrone.
25 Donegal
2014: P 10, W6, L4
Won the 3A title; lost to Roscommon and Fingal in the Nickey Rackard Cup.
26 Roscommon
2014: P9, W6, L3
Runners-up to Donegal in 3A.
27 Longford
2014: P9, W4,D1,L4
Finished bottom of 3A but recovered well and won the Lory Meagher Cup for the second time.
28 Fermanagh
2014: P9, W5, D1, L3
Runners-up to Longford in the Lory Meagher Cup.
29 Monaghan
2014: P8, W3, L5
Survived in the Nickey Rackard Cup on a play-off with Sligo.
30 Louth
P8, W2, L6
Fifth of six in 3A.
31 Leitrim
2014: P7, W2, L5
Runners-up to Tyrone in 3B.
32 Warwickshire
2014: P6, W2, L4
One win each in league and Lory Meagher Cup.
33 Sligo
2014: P6, L6
The only way is up.
Irish Independent