Kilkenny

Last Season: 8th

Record: Won 5 Drew 1 Lost 12 Pts 16 Goals For 36 Goals Against 65

Captain: Hugh Kelly

Players In: Hugh Kelly (London)

Players Out: Richie Dore (Fingal), Emmett Hughes (Fingal)

Summary: Kilkenny came into 2007/08 with modest ambitions but targeted certain games to great effect and, to some extent, over-achieved.

A tricky second season may lie in wait for them as Railway will most certainly be a stronger opposition than Bray meaning a greater scrap to avoid the play-off and relegation spot.

Tom Manning will no longer be so much of an unknown source of goals and Richie Dore and Emmett Hughes move up to Dublin has led to the introduction of schools’ players Eoin Finnegan, Jack Kennedy and Evan Matthews into the main squad.

Stephen Thompson describes the side as being “slightly weaker this year but the extra season under our belt will stand to us”.

Focussing on the two UCD matches will be a good strategy and would guarantee ninth and the playoff place. Game three against Railway could get them off to a flyer in the relegation-race.

First three games: Glenanne (a); Fingal (h); Railway Union (h)

Prediction: 9th