With the provincial championships now behind us, it will be interesting to see how the remainder of the hurling championship plays out.
This year's All-Ireland series has a very open feel to it, with four or five teams viewed as contenders to lift the Liam MacCarthy later this summer. That should make for some very exciting viewing for supporters, especially as we enter the business end of the competition.
As for who will be the outright favourites, many people will feel that it is difficult to look beyond Limerick. John Kiely's side are the most talented team in the country, and after their small blip earlier in the campaign, they look to be getting back to their best after the last couple of games against Cork and Clare.
However, not all view the defending champions as the most likely All-Ireland hurling winners as teams stand.
Jackie Tyrrell makes surprising All-Ireland hurling selection
Tipperary may not have even made it to a provincial final this year, but that does not mean that Liam Cahill's side can be written off later in the championship. After all, they were among the most in-form teams in hurling prior to their shock loss to Waterford in the final round robin game.
Speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, Jackie Tyrrell said that he currently views Tipp as the best team in the country.
Tipperary are the most dangerous team in the country right now.
If you gave me €1,000 I would think strongly about putting on Tipperary to win the All-Ireland. I just think they are going to be such a tough proposition for this Galway team...
Tipp will be fresh, they'll have a bounce in their step, some of the lads will be back.
Without being dismissive to Offaly they should get over the line there and I fancy Tipp to do a job on Galway. You'd scratch your head with Galway's form.
It'll be a huge test for Henry, how he picks them up and rejigs this Galway team and gets a bit of life into them. Tom Monaghan, Conor Cooney, Joseph Cooney - they weren't at the races on Sunday.
An interesting take.
Tipperary will face Offaly in a preliminary quarter-final this weekend, with Galway waiting for them in the next round should they overcome that challenge.
If they can cross those two hurdles, it will make for a very interesting end to this year's championship for the Premier County.
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