We ranked the six remaining All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship teams

We have some summer ahead of us!

Here's how we ranked them.

6. Offaly

It’s been amazing to see the resurgence of hurling within the county, the road that famous under-20 team has embarked on has been incredible. 

Other counties should take note of the fabulous work that has been done by the likes of chairperson Michael Duignan, manager Johnny Kelly and benefactors such as  Shane Lowry.

A county that has really pulled in the one direction the last number of years, but a quarter-final against the Munster runner-up should spell the end of the road. 

They will play with a certain level of freedom given the ‘underdog’ tag they’ll no doubt have, so I suspect they’ll make it a tighter affair than many would predict. 

They have some super hurlers in Dan Bourke and Adam Screeney, a fine full forward in Brian Duignan and, the best upcoming keeper in the country in the gentleman that is Liam Hoare, but this one is a bridge too far for them at the moment.

5. Galway

He’s come in and has blended the aforementioned young guns with the imperial likes of Conor Whelan and centre back Daithi Burke ever so well.

It’s truly a toss-up for me in this ranking about Clare, Dublin or Galway, but the loss of Niland has made up my mind that they remain in fifth.

I could easily be proved wrong; however, a win in the All-Ireland under-20 final against Clare, as well as a Leinster final victory, could have me eating my heart out.

4. Dublin

Yes, you’ll have noticed it’s the three Leinster teams in my bottom three of this list. I think with fair reason though. 

The last time a Leinster team won the All-Ireland was Galway back in 2017. 

That gap is closing, no doubt, and Dublin won’t have too much fear against the top three from Munster given the win over the greatest team of all in Limerick last year, but the quality and strength of bench isn’t quite there for me just yet.

Much like the Donoghue appointment in Galway, you got the sense from the get-go that the Niall Ó Ceallacháin one was always just going to work. A man from their county, who just ‘gets it'. 

He’s surrounded himself with a fine group of players. 

You’ve Dónal Burke, Brian Hayes, Fergal Whitely and Ronan Hayes in attack with the lion that is Chris Crummey in the half-back line. 

Liam Rushe injuring himself in the warm up against Kilkenny was a loss, but no better man than John Bellew to step in. 

Having a John Bellow, John Hetherton and Ronan Hayes available to come in when called upon is the reason I have them ahead of Galway.

It’s amazing to see the Dubs support this team, and no doubt they’ll support the Boys in Blue all the way. 

I just think all the way for them this year is a semi-final, but a Leinster winners medal in the back pocket will soften the blow.

3. Clare

Two pretty dismal displays against the two best teams in the country in Limerick and Cork won’t do them many favours, but much like after their loss to Limerick, they should bounce back in a bit of style. They have too much talent in that team not to. 

Ryan Taylor in the midfield perhaps also doesn’t get the plaudits he deserves. On his, and Mark Rodgers' hopeful return, the optimism in the camp will be high.

2. Cork

A real toss-up between the top two here. Cork and Limerick is by far the best rivalry in Irish sport right now. 

Two counties that meet so often they’ll know each other like the back of their hand. You could make the argument that Cork are almost looking up to Limerick and adopting their style of mixing the short and the long, bolstered by lightning-quick wing forwards.

Cork will take great confidence from their Munster defensive record; 3-84 against is certainly not a bad campaign and the best of the bunch. 

I do have my doubts about the backline despite this lack of opposition scoring, however. 

The often criticised Damien Cahalane has done a stellar job as full back this championship it must be said! 

I can’t help but wonder, though, how much more intimidating they could be with an injury-free Ciarán Joyce, and that’s where I do worry for them. 

They are a serious Seán O’Donoghue, Niall O’Leary or Rob Downey injury away from the All-Ireland push being in jeopardy.

Barry Walsh has been a revelation; he shows his youth and inexperience at times, being only 19, but he doesn’t let it get him down or affect his play, and that is some compliment to a player of his age.

William Buckley is another amazing find, and I think Ben O’Connor loves him so much as he reminds him of himself; maybe not the biggest, but he brings that eye of the tiger that has been lacking from Cork teams down the years.

Shane Barrett, an outstanding championship after a not-so-great league, he's been a nightmare for teams. 

The two speedsters alongside him in Walsh and 'Dudsy' Healy are really helping out his game. 

They have a seriously imposing forward, who I think will win them the Munster final, as they want to defend their 'patch'. As Barrett put it, it will be high.

1. Limerick

Just awesome to watch. They are, for me, the greatest team of all time. 

They’ve come closer to the pack, but they are still just about in front of Cork. 

It comes down to them knowing how to win All-Irelands.

Yes, Aidan O’Connor, the ‘Bull’ O’Brien or Cathal O’Neill or Adam English weren’t out there on the pitch doing it, but they’ve so many players that have. 

Sports psychologist Caroline Currid being back with the group may also go a long way into securing Liam MacCarthy back Shannon-side.

Cork might defend their home patch, but I think the Treaty will have the last laugh.