Mark Boylan's Allianz Hurling League preview, best bets, free GAA tips

Division 1

For some counties the Allianz Hurling League could be viewed as an exercise in team development, but for Limerick manager John Kiely it represents an opportunity for his side to let their hurling do the talking, following an off-season the Munster champions will want to forget.

The 2018 All-Ireland heroes looked untouchable after blowing away Tipperary by 12 points in last season's Munster decider, but a combination of KIlkenny's colossal intensity and a slow start from a wasteful Limerick side who shot 15 wides saw their season ended by a single point at the semi-final stage of last year's All Ireland series.

That defeat, and a series of unwanted off-season incidents could leave Kiely's charges hungry to record back-to-back league titles.

There are few teams with the quality and depth of the Shannonsiders, and with the manager promising to rotate his side, competition for places could lead to some big league performances in a bid to establish starting positions.

Aside from the injured Shane Dowling and Pat Ryan, Limerick should have a full squad at their disposal during the league campaign.

Early-season tournaments such as the Munster Senior League can often be shadow boxing, but Limerick showed their wellbeing with an eight-point win over Clare and a 15-point hammering of Cork when landing the prize earlier this month.

The nature of how the league is divided leaves the 1A group resembling a Munster-like competition, while 1B has a Leinster feel to it. Limerick are the standout contenders at 4-1 for an overall success and they look especially good value at 9-4 to account for a trio of rivals from their own province in 1A.

After much speculation, Davy Fitzgerald will be in charge at Wexford for a fourth season and his side could make a big impact in Division 1B, arriving in good heart after a late win over Galway in the Walsh Cup final.

They won't be helped by the absence of star players Lee Chin, Matthew O'Hanlon and Diarmuid O'Keeffe for the initial stages of the campaign but they have talented replacements ready to step up.

Crucially, their main market rivals Kilkenny will be without a number of key men for the immediate future after the county recorded a clean sweep in the All-Ireland club hurling series.

Brian Cody's side suffered their fifth straight defeat to Wexford in all competitions earlier this month in the Walsh Cup, and it was interesting to hear Fitzgerald note afterwards that: "Kilkenny are only home from holidays two or three days - we're not."

The reigning Leinster champions are appealing at 11-4 for Division 1B honours.

Best Bets

Limerick to top Division 1A
3pts 9-4 Ladbrokes

Wexford to top Division 1B
2pts 11-4 Ladbrokes

Limerick to win Division 1
2pts 4-1 bet365

Division 2A

After years of doom and gloom, Offaly have made a bright start to life under new manager Michael Fennelly and a recent unbeaten Kehoe Cup campaign bodes well for their upcoming Division 2A challenge.

The Ballyhale captain's side racked up 2-28 against Kildare, 1-24 against Down and 8-18 against Meath before a late Oisin Kelly score saw the Faithful County take home the silverware by a point against Antrim.

They encounter the same standard of rivals in this competition after a disappointing relegation in 2019, having been in Division 1B for the entirety of its existence since 2012.

Winning games at any grade hasn't been a given for Offaly in recent seasons but they should be able to make their presence felt.