Allianz National Hurling League begins - Division 1B...

Yesterday we had a look at the six protagonists in the top flight of the national hurling league. Today we look at the "mezzanine level" of six that has been created, albeit controversially and not without opposition. Limerick's strong performance in last year's championship means that they head the betting, however with five counties out of the six starting the year with new managers at the helm, it's very much an open book with a lot of possible outcomes. 

Limerick

Paddy Powers go 15/8 best price about the Treaty county topping this mini league and as the only side with continuity of management and the only side who reached the All Ireland quarter finals last year, it's hard to look beyond them. The fixture list hasn't been unduly kind in that they play three away games and also face Antrim in the last round when the Ulstermen will have their Loughgiel players back, but conversely the availability of the Na Piarsaigh hurlers is a boost to John Allen. The tone will be set by this Saturday night's battle in the Gaelic Grounds against Clare. If they get a win here, and deal a blow to their main rivals in the process, they'll have made a great start. Lose here and they're looking at going to Portlaoise, Wexford and Belfast and having to win all three ties, not to mention beat Offaly at home and hope that Clare slip up. On that basis, bet them on Saturday night by all means but there's little or no value in the outright price until you know they've avoided defeat at the very least in that tie. 

Clare

The Waterford Crystal Cup has given them an excellent head start in their preparations and their All Ireland under-21 winners of a few years ago should be peaking around now. David Fitzgerald is a controversial figure for a lot of reasons but his managerial record is very good and often gets forgotten about in all the fuss about his personality. The big challenge for them will be their trip to Portlaoise in round three. Historically Clare have struggled to get home in these kind of ties against underdogs and they can't afford to drop points in that fixture. They will beat Antrim at home and Wexford are not good on the road so that looks like a probably win too - so expect them to be in with a great shout if they take anything from their very short trip to Limerick this weekend. 

Wexford

In recent years they've started to improve at underage level but they are still sorely lacking in a lot of key positions and have never adequately replaced Diarmuid Lyng up front. They needed Oulart the Ballagh to get over the line in Leinster for a boost and the nature of that club's defeat to Coolderry was a blow, both to the hurlers involved and to new manager Liam Dunne. Dunne may have an impeccable record in Wexford club hurling, but he's been working with a vastly superior group of players in that competition. He has a lot to prove at county level and they make no appeal in the betting market right now.  

Offaly

Structurally, the Faithful county have a lot of problems at the moment but they do have a core group of good senior hurlers capable of holding their own against anyone for the moment. Diarmuid Horan is back from America, Seán Ryan has changed allegiance after playing football for the past few years and there are a few bright young prospects in the camp that are very capable. They need to avoid injuries however as the squad lacks depth, at least while the Coolderry players are out. They face a real banana skin tie this weekend however and no money should go down on them either for that match, or outright, this week. Laois have always raised their game against Offaly and the last four league matches between the two counties have resulted in two wins for each county, and three matches that were decided by a solitary point. If Offaly can win by four or five this week, that will represent very solid form and only then, an outright betting play might be warranted. 

Antrim

One can only wonder what new manager Jerry Wallis does to pass the time when making the trip from Cork to Antrim and he certainly must have seen something up there to inspire him to make such an arduous commute, but whatever he's seen is invisible to this columnist. Without the Loughgiel hurlers a really tough campaign is in store and their round four battle with Laois at Casement Park looks like a relegation battle already. 

Laois

In conceding ten goals to Cork in their last championship outing of 2011, the O'Moore county hit an all time low last Summer but they have taken some good steps in the right direction since then. Recruiting Teddy McCarthy to take charge of the county side greatly heightened the interest of the club players in the county and the fruits of that success were to be seen in the Walsh Cup, where they secured a great home win over Dublin. They'll look forward to this Sunday's trip up the N80 as a real chance to upset their more illustrious northern neighbours and they have every chance of doing so, but they need to find an upset in one of their next three games. For now though, 7/2 to beat Offaly looks like a great bet.