Hurling talking points ahead of 2023

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Well, it would be if there was any hurling on.

But with just over a month to go until the inter-county season resumes, we look ahead to what lies in store for the small-ball code big stage in 2023.

Limerick on the brink of history

On they go. Four Liam MacCarthy Cups in five years after none for 45.

Limerick have the chance to equal the all-time record for consecutive All-Ireland titles if they can land four in a row this year.

They would be just the third team to do so, after Cork in 1941-44 and Kilkenny in 2006-09.

That they secured three on the trot this year, more or less without two-time Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch, suggests no-one will stop them. Next year and probably the one after.

And yet...

The chasing pack got closer in 2022. Clare drew with them in the Munster round-robin and pushed them to extra-time in the provincial decider. Kilkenny got within a score in the All-Ireland. Limerick's rivals have decoded the game plan, even if they haven't quite figured out how to stop it yet.

The champions' starting XV in July was still remarkably similar to that against Galway four years ago. Barry Nash and Willie O'Donoghue - for Richie English and the injured Lynch - were the only changes.

It's no wonder manager John Kiely regularly talks up the impact of his bench - it's a hard team to break into, still primarily built around the U21 title-winning teams of 2017 and '19.

Though with a starting average age of 27 in last July's final, it could still be another couple of years before the lack of evolution becomes a problem.

The chasing pack

A smart-alec might suggest that the only real talking point for next year is who will lose to Limerick in the final. But we are better than that.

So who are