After the campaign for beatification that followed the scutching of Wexford, the league final constituted a blessing in an extremely obvious disguise. Cody's options having narrowed as a consequence, it's hard to see them going into battle without the same rafters as last year (ie Hickey at 3, Sheffiin at 11 and Comerford at 14). But are in the market for two corner-forwards and there's still a question mark over PJ Ryan in goal, while Cha Fitzpatrick has some catching up to do to reclaim his place alongside Derek Lyng.

Panel has depth without possessing any embarrassment of riches.

Need Last year's hunger
2 CORK (-1) Manager Gerald McCarthy All Irelands 30 Need Joe Deane to work the opposition goalie more often If they were a film character they'd be Don Corleone. Powerful, suave, hugely successful. Inspire fear and respect.

Rarely confuses business with the personal.

Going to the well with a plethora of familiar faces and facing into what may be, as it was for Kilkenny in 2005, a season of retrenchment. No worries in defence, as ever, but Brian Corcoran's retirement deprives them of a spiritual director up front as well as someone to hold up possession and play with his back to goal. Pa Cronin, who showed a nice eye for a point during the league, must complement his accuracy with industry in general play.

3 WATERFORD (+4) Manager Justin McCarthy All Irelands Tw o If they were a film character they'd be Steve McQueen's Cooler Kid in The Great Escape. Colourful, individualistic but still can't get over that damned wire at the end.

As their virtues are listed elsewhere on these pages, it's no harm to enter a couple of caveats. What would happen, for instance, were Ken McGrath's injured thumb to plague him all summer? Paul Flynn must get himself into a position to be vying for a starting place as opposed to settling for being first sub. The forwards have an alarming tendency to lose their shape during the second half of games, with everyone running around doing his own thing. And despite their undoubted pointscoring prowess, the shortage of goals has to be classed as a negative; woe the (surely inevitable) day they drive 14 wides.

Need To treat the Munster semi-"nal like it's an All Ireland final

4 GALWAY (-2) Manager Ger Loughnane All Irelands Four If they were a film character they'd be Alien.

Mysterious arrivals from far away who could prove a horrible surprise for unwary stomachs.

Questions, questions . . .

the most relevant being, does the manager know his best team? And if they go the distance this summer, will he claim that he knew it all along and was merely going through the motions during the league? Disturbingly dependent on young John Lee proving a serviceable keystone in defence. Keep an eye on Fergal Moore in defence and on Iarla Tannian, who offers fresh legs in a forward line that's become predictable. The front door remains open for the Cannings; don't expect it to be used.

Need A tough All Ireland quarter-final draw

5 TIPPERARY (+1) Manager Babs Keating All Irelands 25 Norma Desmond (Joan Crawford) in Sunset Boulevard. "I ambig! It's the pictures that got small!"

If they were a film character they'd be The wearyingly inevitable clash with Limerick (zzzf) being a semi-"nal this year rather than a quarter-"nal, it wouldn't take much for them to win Munster . . . and Tipp would be two or three points a better team with a provincial title under their belt.

Important that Paul Kelly, scarcely a natural fit for the position, continues his fine form of the league at corner-forward, not least to help ensure that his kid brother doesn't have to produce his Atlas impression for the umpteenth summer in a row.

Need Goals from Danny O'Hanlon 6 CLARE (-2) Manager Tony Considine All Irelands Three If they were a film character they'd be The passengers in Titanic Forget for a moment about the wrongs and pratfalls of spring; the fact remains that Clare will go into battle deprived of last year's spinal column and missing four past or present All Stars, plus a near-All Star from 2005 in Tony Carmody. Frank Lohan's comments during the week can be taken as suggestive of panel unity, which at least is a start. Clocking up matchwinning totals will be their biggest problem.

Need To hurl out of their skins against Cork, irrespective of the outcome