In hurling,the pack are gaining on Brian Cody’s all conquering Killkenny side-but they are still the side to beat in the race for Liam.
They could be history makers again on the first Sunday in September if they can collect five All-Ireland titles in a row.
Tipperary are their nearest challengers, with Cork an outside bet this year while Galway have the talent but have yet to show real title credentials.
The race for Sam is wide open.
Champions Kerry have lost key players in key areas and will do well to retain the title.
They are still marginal favourites but Cork are the form team and the best footballers in the country at the minute.
That doesn’t mean they are guaranteed any silverware and they have to be more ruthless this time around.
Tyrone can’t be overlooked while Down and Armagh in Ulster have shown signs of reinvention.
Don’t forget the mighty Dublin or a Joe Kernan led Galway.
All-in-all, 2010 is going to be a real GAA roller-coaster ride

ULSTER

ANTRIM

A team ‘on form’going into the Ulster Championship. That is a strange statement to stick to the Saffrons but they are a whole new outfit under Liam Bradley.  Promotion in the League will only help matters and the small story of an All-Ireland club title for St Galls, can’t be underestimated.

KEY MAN: Kevin Niblock

VERDICT: Ulster Semi-final.

HURLING: An Ulster title is a given, but whether they can finally live up to their promise in the Leinster Championship will define their season – Offaly on May 30th will tell a tale.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Eastenders’ – There is always a soap opera going on in Antrim.

ARMAGH

A DOWN man could be the Orchard County’s saviour. Paddy O’Rourke has steered Armagh well in the league – and despite the drumming by his native county – Armagh look like genuine contenders. A tough start to their Ulster campaign against Derry, might be off-set with a decent run through the back-door.

KEY MAN:  Aaron Kernan

VERDICT: All-Ireland quarter-finals – through the back door.

HURLING:  The Nicky Rackard Cup is the aim again for the Orchard hurlers, with an opener against Fingal in June. Donegal is first though, in a tough Ulster Championship Round 1.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Heroes’ – enough said.

CAVAN

TOMMY Carr has learnt something from his first year in charge. His new look outfit is now built around mobile, physical players – most of which are from DCU’s famed GAA Academy. The Sigerson Cup winners contribute handsomely to the Breffni forward line.

KEY MAN: Cian Mackey

VERDICT: A good qualifiers run.

HURLING: Omagh is where they start their hurling campaign against Tyrone, a Round 2 clash against Armagh or Donegal awaits the winners. Then attentions turn to a race for Croker through the Lord Meagher Cup.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Top Gear’ – Tommy Carr is doing okay.

DERRY

A SINKING ship in the league must be turned around before Armagh make a visit in the heat of the Championship. Damien Cassidy has the players, but do they have the desire to make an impact? A good run in Ulster is not out of the question, but the qualifier route maybe the best chance of salvation this summer.

KEY MAN: Paddy Bradley

VERDICT: Cassidy will feel the heat this summer.

HURLING: A tough Christy Ring assignment against an improving Westmeath will shape their 2010 season. In Ulster, a semi-final place is almost assured, while a spot in the final would be more progress.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Bullseye’ – Derry is used to Jim Bowen’s BFH – Bus Fare Home.

DONEGAL

JOHN Joe Doherty has a plan and he likes to stick to it. It revolves around the Young Player of the Year Micheal Murphy and it worked during the league.  Whether it can be sustained during the heat of Championship is another thing.

KEY MAN: Micheal Murphy

VERDICT: Qualifer exit.

HURLING: The Ulster Championship offers little hope, but Longford in the Lord Meagher Cup Round 1 could lead to an easier route to a medal this summer.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Two pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps’

DOWN

DEFENSIVE and hard to beat, Down have the makings of genuine challengers. They will do well in Ulster, but may find the bigger stage in Croke Park one step too far in James McCartan’s first season. Dan Gordon’s fitness and attitude could decide things, but a rejuvenated Bennie Coulter is a good sign for the Mourne faithful.

KEY MAN – Martin Clarke

VERDICT – Ulster Champs

HURLING: A Christy Ring opener against a rejuvenated Kerry will be a tough test, especially with another Ulster struggle against Antrim also on the cards this summer.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Off the Rails’ – will Dan Gordon’s head be in the game?

FERMANAGH

THINGS are going from bad to worse for the Erne men. Division Four football next season won’t help, but Malachy O’Rourke must steady the ship before then. A Championship opener against Cavan will be a major test for a county with no confidence. They need their big players back and quick.

KEY MAN – Rory Gallagher

VERDICT – A short summer.

HURLING: A trip to Warwickshire is on the cards with the Erne hurlers drawing them in the first round of the Lord Meagher Cup, Before that a swift Ulster Championship exit could also be calling.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Countdown’ – the time is ticking for an Ulster title.

MONAGHAN

A LAST hurrah for McEnaney and company as they plan one more epic season. New blood has emerged but the likes of Finlay, Woods and Clerkin will carry the can in the Ulster Championship. They will be hungry, attacking and intense – expect fireworks.

KEY MAN: Conor McManus

VERDICT: Another Ulster title disappointment.

HURLING: Fermanagh are up first in the Ulster Hurling Championship. But the Farney hurlers will also have eyes on a run on their Nicky Rackard face-off with Roscommon.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘A Place in the Sun’ – if they clinch the Ulster Football title.

TYRONE

MICKEY Harte is still working his magic with the Red Hands. A valiant win over Kerry in the league seems to put a spring in their step. Harte could just be embarking on a whole new era of Tyrone footballers, with the likes of Colm Cavanagh, Kyle Coney and Raymond Mulgrew stepping up to the plate. They will be there or there abouts in Croke Park this September, but whether they have the fully fit services of Dooher, McGuigan and O’Neill to supplement the new talent could decide the fate of Sam.

KEY MAN: Brian Dooher

VERDICT: All-Ireland semi-final

HURLING: An Ulster Championship quarter-final clash with Down is not out of the question, and any good showing there would set them up nicely for a crack at Louth in the Nicky Rackard Cup.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Grand Designs’ – Harte is looking to build another winning team.

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LEINSTER

DUBLIN

A new defensive attitude will make them harder to beat and a Leinster title will be theirs again this year, but that only papers over the cracks.  Come the heat of battle against the Munster winners in a packed Croke Park, Dublin will probably revert back to their normal state.

KEY MAN: Bernard Brogan

VERDICT: All-Ireland wash-outs.

HURLING: Anthony Daly might have thought this was the year to kick-on, but expect another hard tussle with Shane Ryan and co. this season.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘That 70’s show’ – Oh for the days of winning Sky Blue footballers.

LAOIS

KEY MAN – MJ Tierney

VERDICT – Leinster humiliation

IF WE WERE A TV SHOW: ‘OZ ‘– because they can’t go a season without one

of their players going or being tempted to go Down Under.

WESTMEATH

KEY MAN: Denise Glennon

VERDICT:  Leinster football first round exit

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Marooned – they already starred in a TV show, it went on air in 2004.

OFFALY

KEY MAN – Niall McNamee, Pascal Kellaghan, Brian Carroll (hurling)

VERDICT – Better than last year.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Muriel’s wedding’    – Always the bridesmaid, never the Leinster bride (since 1997).

LONGFORD

KEY MAN: Paul Barden

VERDICT : A tough first game against Louth.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Please sir’- they have the manners, but not the football.

CARLOW

KEY MAN: Derek Hayden

VERDICT:  A Leinster semi-final spot against Kildare is possible.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW:  ’Survivors’ – always hanging on in there.

KILDARE

KIERAN McGeeney is having a mixed season. Indisclipine and then injuries blighted the Lilywhites’ National League, but alongside Aidan O’Rourke they can turn it around and have the players to make an impact.

KEY MAN: Dermot Earley

VERDICT: A Leinster final appearance could be the height of it.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW:  ’Casualty’ – walking wounded at the minute.

KILKENNY

UNSTOPPABLE, is how Brian Cody would like them to be seen, but a patchy league has raised some eyebrows.  It’s doubtful though, if that will have any bearing come September. A conveyor belt of talent is forever moving for the Cats.

KEY MAN: Eddie Brennan

VERDICT: Top Cats again.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Top Cat’

LOUTH

KEY MAN: Paddy Keenan.

VERDICT: Emerging Leinster force.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Smallville’ – for the Wee County.

MEATH

A big threat to Dublin this season in the Leinster Football Championship. They were flattered last season with an All-Ireland semi-final place and they won’t repeat it.

KEY MAN: Stephen Bray

VERDICT: All-Ireland quarter-final

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘The Royal Family.’

WEXFORD

KEY MAN: A fit Mattie Forde

VERDICT: Improvement on last season.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW:  ’Crossroads’ – One hit season.

WICKLOW

KEY MAN: Mick O’Dwyer

VERDICT: Another impressive Football qualifiers run.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘The Odd Couple’ – Micko and Wicklow

MUNSTER

TIPPERARY

THE biggest threat to Kilkenny’s hurling crown will come from Liam Sheedy’s men. They are the up and coming team and should have a huge bearing on the Liam McCarthy Cup race. John Evans has done wonders with the footballers and an U-21 Munster football title is already a huge deal. Expect them to rattle a big team in Munster and through the back door.

KEY MAN: Barry Grogan (Football)/Eoin Kelly (Hurling)

VERDICT: All-Ireland hurling threat/ Munster football title aspirations.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Some Mothers Do Ave Em’ – Tipp fans should thank Mother Kelly for having Eoin and Paul.

WATERFORD

DAVY Fitz is turning them into a team with strength and resolve, so expect another rollercoaster Deise season. The footballers will be less entertaining.

KEY MAN: Eoin Kelly

VERDICT: All-Ireland hurling semi-final

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Any Dream will Do’ – Always dreaming of silverware

KERRY

LOSING big players in the off-season wasn’t the best preparation, but they have rallied somewhat and once they have a settled team through the Munster Championship, they will be a danger again at the business end of things. Replacing Darragh O’Shea and Tommy Walsh will be massive.

KEY MAN: The Gooch.

VERDICT: Will be in one of the teams to beat – again

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘The Front Line’ – the team to catch.

CORK

POWER, pace and now the hurt from an All-Ireland football loss will be massive incentive on Leeside to do some Football damage this season. For the hurlers, it is a pre-season for the first time in a while and they showed well in the league.

KEY MAN: John Gardiner (hurling)/ Pearce O’Neill (Football)

VERDICT: It could be double honours on Leeside come September

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Double Trouble’ – if they can lift Liam and Sam

CLARE

KEY MAN:  Darach Honan (Hurling)

VERDICT: Watch for the footballers to go further than the hurlers.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Birds of Prey’ – Ger Sparrow O’Loughlin

LIMERICK

IT could be a long summer in Limerick. Expect the footballers to get more and more support as the season wears on. Unless there is a major turn-around, Justin McCarthy will suffer some serious beatings in the heat of the hurling Championship.

KEY MAN: John Galvin (Football)/ Any hurler who turns out for Justin

VERDICT: Look away now.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘War and Peace’

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CONNACHT

GALWAY

JOE Kernan has his hands full in the West, but they were showing signs of life towards the back end of the National League. They will be hard working and hard to beat, but must get Micheal Meehan and Padaric Joyce fit to stand any hope come August time. A Connacht title could be on the cards, but more likely a day out in Croke Park with a good performance. A Provinicial title for the hurlers would do nicely as well.

VERDICT: Rattle someone in Croke Park

KEY MAN: Michael Meehan (Football)/Joe Canning (Hurling)

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Orange County’ – Joe is bringing Armagh tactics with him.

MAYO

GENUINE contenders for the Football title.  A good system, with good players will always go far. It is just a matter of Mayo becoming mentally strong enough to get over the Sam Maguire line.

KEY MAN: Aiden O’Shea

VERDICT: All-Ireland finalists.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Gardiner’s World’ – the flying defeats life.

NEW YORK

KEY MAN :  Mark Dobbin

VERDICT – Big Joe will make hay in New York in May.

FAVOURTIE TV SHOW: ‘Sex and the City’ – It’s the best thing ever to come out of the big apple.

LONDON

KEY MAN: Kevin McMenamin

VERDICT – Back to the drawing board.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘London’s Burning’  - if they win a match.

ROSCOMMON

KEY MAN: Donie Shine

VERDICT: A Connacht Final is on the cards.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Teens in the Wild’ – any of those All-Ireland winning minors about ?

SLIGO

KEY MAN: Eamonn O’Hara

VERDICT: An unknown quantity.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW:  ‘The Waltons’ – they never change.

LEITRIM

KEY MAN:  Michael Foley

VERDICT: An improvement in Connacht expected.

FAVOURITE TV SHOW: ‘Chewin the fat’- Mickey and John style.