Summer set to be fast and furious

THE excitement is building as another hurling championship arrives, but this year is unique because instead of waiting till May or June for our annual fix, we've been buzzing since the new league started in March.

What we have now - and what we've never had before - is a league situation in which every match is being played at practically Championship pace and instead of the traditional build-up to summer, managers are having to legislate for competitive games right up to the Championship. The challenge for them is to keep their players fresh for the Championship, both physically and mentally, while competing in these demanding league games.

They've also had a chance to assess the potential of new talent in circumstances that are nearer to Championship conditions than the old league would ever permit because, in addition to the games been faster, the ground has been hard and fast, too.

All-Ireland champions Wexford have not had a good league and their form must be a worry for manager Rory Kinsella. It's always harder to win it a second time. When you're going for your first you're willing to do anything, but I think Wexford are suffering in the same way that Clare and Offaly suffered in the years after they won. Limerick were the same after winning in '73.

Therefore, a lot depends on Wexford's mental approach. If there are players who aren't putting in the effort then that malaise will spread throughout the team. But they're All-Ireland champions, and because they are champions they know they can do it. It's up to them to prove they have the will to do it for a second year - at the moment, it appears not.

Kilkenny look like they mean business this year. They haven't done anything since 1993 and they have to be hungry. John Power seems to be back motoring on all cylinders, Pat O'Neill is back at centre half-back, DJ Carey is captain and going extremely well and they seem to have a lot of young players around.

Offaly have done well in the league. They have blooded a few useful young players but what they need is a panel of about 25, all fighting for places. If they had that it would shake up some of the older players - and some of them need to be shaken up - but unfortunately they don't have a big selection.

I still think they will be favourites along with Kilkenny to come out of Leinster. Offaly love playing Kilkenny and love beating them. They have done it often enough in recent years, so I think it will he a toss of the coin between these teams.

Dublin, though, are in with a definite chance. They have been playing very well in Division Two of the league. Michael O'Grady is very good to organise and motivate players and he has done a tremendous job there. The two Kilkenny lads give them something extra, but the team is well balanced. Laois have had a traumatic time in the first division. Morale is very low and it's difficult to see them pulling out of their slump.

In Munster, Limerick seem to have recovered well from last September. The best thing to have happened them is that the league didn't start until the following March. If it had started last October I would say they'd be down in the second division by now. They's had time to recover.

Whether they have psychologically overcome the loss of a second All-Ireland remains to be seen. They've brought on young lads that are hungry and fighting for places. Ciaran Carey's ankle injury is a continuing worry and it looks like Joe Quaid is going to miss the Waterford game in two weeks.

That is a match which, as a Limerick man, I'd be very much afraid of because down through the years Waterford have always been capable of beating us. They have lost to both Cork and Dublin in the league, but I'm sure that Gerald McCarthy is preparing them for one game and one game only. Clare have had a mixed league and Ger Loughnane is worried because some of his players aren't performing to the standard he requires. But now is the time to find that out - both he and his players have time to iron out their problems.

Brian Lohan is, of course, a key man, but he looks mentally and physically tired right now. Between club and county, he's been going non-stop for two years and I can understand how he's feeling. When you see him turning slowly on a field you know that mentally he's not alert.

Tipperary are dark horses in what is a very open province. A fit and in-form John Leahy is vital. They will have a few young players in their line-up and experienced figures like Leahy will be important. Great corner forwards like English and Fox are hard to replace, but the standard of forward lines throughout the country isn't great - most counties are dependent on one chief scorer.

Cork may not be producing the goods right now but as Christy Ring once said, "wait until you hear the cuckoo, then you can start to hurl" - or words to that effect. I only heard the cuckoo last week so maybe we'll see a new Cork team emerge in the weeks to come. I would never, ever, write them off.

The Connacht and Ulster champions - Galway and probably Antrim - await the Munster and Leinster runners-up in the quarter-finals. I'm not sure about this arrangement, but there's no harm in giving it a chance. Let's see how it goes.

Cyril Farrell has so many good players vying for places and there are times when that can be a drawback. But the league has given him a chance to take a good look at them. Their situation is ideal this year in that they'll be playing league games until June and will then have a quiet period in which to prepare for the All-Ireland quarter-final.

They will be there or thereabouts - but I find myself saying that about so many teams this year. Standards have evened out so much that it's impossible to pick out one side that is clearly ahead of the pack. Just look at the league: teams have been beating each other, Limerick have drawn two games - they are all closely matched. They all have their flaws, they all have their good points, so I don't have a gut instinct for one over the rest.

But I'm really looking forward to it all. Last year was fabulous and this summer could be just as good. If it is, we'll be spoiled.