Hurling management teams 2024 - the lie of the land

Who is leading the contenders heading into the 2024 Allianz Hurling League? There's not much change in the top order, but a fresh brush for many sides in the lower tiers.

Manager: Brian Lohan

Year: Five

Notes: As he enters a fifth year in charge, Brian Lohan has opted to shake his backroom team up as he attempts to discover the final few ingredients to take Clare to the top of the pile.

Two-time Banner All-Star Brendan Bugler is in, as is Adrian O'Brien, with the pair also set to work with the county's under-20s. Ken Ralph remains as a selector from last term, but Seán Treacy and James Moran depart as coaches.

Former Clare hurler Tommy Corbett is another man into the team while Lukasz Kirszenstein, who worked with Tipperary and Galway in their 2016 and '17 All-Ireland successes, has been drafted in to look after the S&C.

Lohan’s term has been extended to 2025, so he has at least another two seasons in charge.

Manager: Pat Ryan

Year: Two

Notes: Pat Ryan enters year two of his initial three-year term and enthusiasm is growing in the Rebel County.

They went unbeaten in the Division 1A group stage before losing the semi-final to Kilkenny and although they didn’t make it through the group stage in Munster, the final table didn’t tell the full story.

Cork lost twice, but by a single point to Clare and Limerick. Indeed, two late scores in the latter would have secured a provincial final spot and ended the Treaty County’s season altogether.

No new additions to the backroom team for Ryan.

Manager: Derek Lyng

Year: Two

Notes: Derek Lyng starts the second season of this three-year term after a promising first campaign in the post Brian Cody world.

Lyng was ratified for another year back in October, with selectors Peter O’Donovan, Michael Rice,