Starting with the runners and riders for the SHC 1 - 2025
Power Rankings:
Power Rankings:
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Power Rankings:
7th place in AHL 1 v 11th place - so advantage to Boden but Barrog will welcome back Paddy Doyle. Not clear whether Sean Gallagher or James madden, who have been bench players for dubs have been playing recent rounds with club. NOC let subs play during the league so possible they have both been playing unless he changed his policy during the championship - anyone know?
Likely A Boden win but not been a very convincing league for them and very little marquee players coming through, so still relying on McMorrow and Gleeson from tipp if he's still with them. Hopefully, NB make a real game of it.
TT = Boden win
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2nd in AHL 1 v 2nd in AHL2, you'd expect Lucan to have too much for CC here, even though Craobh are in good form and might trouble some of the other teams from AHL1, each with 3 wins from their last 5, but i'd expect Lucan to have too much for them assuming they have their full team available. Lucan to welcome back Crummy.
TT = Lucan
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County, Leinster and All Ireland Champs start their defence of those titles with a new manager in charge, but still a team littered with quality players. Jude's escaped relegation thanks to the restructuring of the championships.
Juades have had a decent league, sitting in 6th but you'd imagine they'll need Danny back fit to make an impression on this group but they have another year into Callum Graham, who looks a very pacey, accurate and direct forward.
Power Rankings:
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Neither side has had a very convincing league in 9th and 10 positions, OPER had started well, but the wheels have come off with only 1 win from their last 5 games, Vincents have 3 wins in the last 5 but have two losses on the trott.
TT - hard one to call - Vins to edge it with Hedgo back?
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Cuala have had a good spring sitting 3rd in the AHL table, i think they showed signs of building nicely last year and have a very decent team taking shape. Might still be off the top two, but some good forwards and lads like Conor Grourke to add to some of the more experienced lads returning.
Whitehall are at the foot of AHL2, but have signs of encouragement with 2 wins in their last 2 games. Not sure where their dual players site but as pointed out above, with the footballers only out 2 weeks, they wont have played much hurling recently.
TT = Cuala
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Crokes come into his top of AHL1 with 4 wins and a draw from their last 5 games, and with a slew of lads back from the dubs. Not sure if dub panel members like Kenny and co have been playing club, I'm guessing they have. Also no word on where they stand with injuries to big players like Considine and the Purcells but with everyone fit they're going to take some beating this year again.
Brigids have had a really strong league without COS and Dunphy, so could be hoping to make an impression on this group IMO. But this one feels like a step too far, even with the county season's highest scorer from play back in the fold.
TT = Crokes
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