Hurling predictions, odds and betting tips: Kilkenny to get out of the blocks fast under Lyng

Best bets

Cork to win Division 1
2pts win 11-2 Paddy Power

Galway to win Division 1
1pt each-way 8-1 Boylesports

Kilkenny to finish top of Division 1B
3pts 5-2 Paddy Power

Cork to finish top of Division 1A
2pts 4-1 Boylesports

Laois to be relegated from Division 1
2pts 15-8 Boylesports

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National Hurling League preview

The league will be of particular interest this year given the number of traditionally powerful teams who are starting life under new leadership. Of the eight teams priced up at 10-1 or lower to win Division 1, five will be seeking to kick-start a new era in the coming weeks having made wholesale changes to their management team.

None more so than Kilkenny, who are starting life without the illustrious presence of Brian Cody, who stepped down last July after an incredible 24 seasons in charge. Stepping into his shoes is Derek Lyng who has been promoted from Under-20 manager having secured an All-Ireland with that group in 2022.

Tipperary will be looking to bounce back from last year's disappointing campaign, where they were ravaged by injuries to high-profile players and struggled to get going for large parts of the year. They go into the campaign under Liam Cahill who enjoyed considerable success when at the helm of the county's Minor and Under-21 teams and captured the league title last year when in charge of Waterford.

It will be fascinating to see how Waterford fare in the league under Davy Fitzgerald. They were impressive in storming to success in this competition last year and Davy is renowned for getting an immediate response when taking over a squad.

However, both managers will be wary of how their seasons developed last year. Cahill will be eager to time Tipperary's run to better effect while Fitzgerald will seek to avoid the dramatic dip in form that his squad experienced last season.

Kilkenny have a good track record in the league in recent times, having topped Division 1B the last two years, and Lyng is likely to blood some of his impressive under-20 squad from last year during the campaign. They seem a big price at 5-2 to emerge top of the pile in 1B for the third year in a row, especially given Tipperary are in transition and Waterford will surely be aiming to peak in Munster to avoid last season's pitfall.

Division 1A sees an imperious Limerick side installed as 11-10 favourites to top the group but they have mastered the art of timing their challenge in recent years. They have won just three games out of a possible ten in the last two league campaigns before subsequently going on to dominate the championship both years.

They will probably be a couple of levels below their best and will offer ample opportunity for fringe players to stake their claims so they can readily be passed over at such short odds.

Galway look sure to take a step forward in their second year under Henry Shefflin. They underwhelmed in the Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny but put in encouraging performances against Cork and Limerick in the championship and they are one of the few teams without a new manager so will surely be a more settled outfit.

They and Cork have strong claims in 1A. Cork have some of the most naturally pacy and gifted forwards in the game and look irresistible when on song. They were incredibly wasteful against Galway in the championship last year and seek to add more steel to their team under Pat Ryan. The injury to Mark Coleman is a big blow but they are a team who have the raw materials to make a significant impact this year.

Galway and Cork are worth keeping onside, while Laois are backed for relegation after narrowly avoiding the playoff last year courtesy of a vital win over Antrim. Antrim and Westmeath seem to be improving steadily and could overtake the O'Moore county this year.

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