A look at who is competing in this year's Munster Championship

Clare

Manager: Michael Brennan, Donie Buckley (second year).

Titles: Munster 2 (1992) All-Ireland 0.

Last year: Beaten Munster semi-final by Cork 0-6 to 0-18, beaten Qualifier Round Three by Sligo 1-13 to 0-11.

NFL position: Sixth in Division Two A.

It's nine years since Clare so memorably ambushed Cork on the first day of Larry Tompkins's reign in the Rebel Nation. Back then, Clare were still classified as the third best team in Munster and considered capable of pulling such off coups on a regular basis. Despite intermittent club success in the interim, their star has fallen considerably and Tipperary and Limerick no longer fear them.

They began the league well with a win over Carlow and finished it with victory over Longford but London was their only scalp in between. Denis Russell is back in tandem with brother David, but Clare have slipped to the stage where a first-round draw with Limerick is considered most unpromising.

Cork

Manager: Billy Morgan (third year).

Titles: Munster 34 (2002) All-Ireland 6 (1990).

Last year: Beaten Munster Final by Kerry 0-11 to 1-11, beaten All-Ireland Semi-final by Kerry 0-9 to 1-19.

NFL position: Fifth in Division One A.

Springtime brought its pleasures and its disappointments. Cork had been awaiting the return of the Nemo contingent, but the club's tame All-Ireland semi-final exit diminished the value of that dividend. Under-21 form brought a provincial title though and Billy Morgan will be busy ensuring that the best of the bunch continue to integrate with a squad which looked to be brimming with potential last summer until they froze in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Have experimented with Anthony Lynch and finished the league playing some decent football, but the forward line was the least productive in the top tier. Billy Morgan will be familiar with the position of getting his affairs in order to play Kerry while the rest of the country looks at Kerry and wonders if they are made for September. It's true that Cork will have to punch above their weight to win Munster, but to dismiss them as lightweights would be foolish.

Kerry

Manager: Jack O'Connor (third year).

Titles: Munster 70 (2005), All-Ireland 33 (2004).

Last year: Munster Champions, beaten All-Ireland Final by Tyrone 2-10 to 1-16.

NFL position: Second in Division One A, league winners.

Eternally condemned to performing in front of the nation's most expectant audience. Three Munster championships on the trot, two All-Ireland appearances in a row, two leagues in three years. And the jury is out.

Defence concedes little (three goals in total during this year's league and 2005 championship) and Kieran Donaghy's arrival adds further aerial ability in midfield. The challenge lies elsewhere.

The Gooch needs back-up. Kerry need to come to a decision on Eoin Brosnan or Eamonn Fitzmaurice at centre forward. Bryan Sheehan and Darren O'Sullivan have to come through and if Mike Frank Russell can be restored to his old self it would be a bonus. Lots of contingencies there, but Kerry are Kerry and last September hurt badly. No county heals faster or learns quicker.

Limerick

Manager: Mickey Ned O'Sullivan (first year).

Titles: Munster 1 (1896), All-Ireland 2 (1896).

Last year: Beaten Munster semi-final by Kerry 2-10 to 0-10, beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round Three by Derry 0-13 to 0-9.

NFL position: Second in Division Two A, promoted, beaten in league semi-final.

Many heads were scratched and beards were rubbed when Mickey Ned O'Sullivan took the Limerick job last Autumn. Had Liam Kearns not taken Limerick as far as they could be taken?

Mickey Ned's admirers were further perplexed when a raft of good footballers pledged their troth to the county hurlers. Even worse, Stephen Kelly, Muiris Gavin and Eoin Keating all came down with long-term injury. And yet O'Sullivan has done a fine job melding together the survivors of Kearns's luckless era and a group of young foundlings from around the county. First day out is against Clare and league form suggests Limerick should be able for that. Cork will be a bigger hurdle, but a decent showing and a run in the qualifiers would represent a more than decent return from what looked like a most unpromising year.

Tipperary

Manager: Séamus McCarthy (second year).

Titles: Munster 9 (1935), All-Ireland 4 (1920).

Last year: Beaten Munster Round One by Kerry 0-13 to 2-22, beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round One by Westmeath 1-8 to 0-12.

NFL position: Fourth in Division Two B.

For a change, Tipperary took the league a bit more seriously (not hard when they had finished bottom last year) and pulled out some good wins. As is often the case, the Munster draw does them no favours with Kerry on the semi-final horizon, but the side is improving.

Declan Browne has been getting better support and they can, depending on the draw, reasonably target progress in the qualifiers.

Waterford

Manager: John Kiely (second year).

Titles: Munster 1 (1898), All-Ireland 0.

Last year: Beaten Munster Round One by Clare 2-10 to 2-14, beaten All-Ireland Qualifier Round One by Louth 1-8 to 1-12.

NFL position: Seventh in Division Two B.

This has already been an annus mirabilis for Waterford with two league wins, including the sensational raid on Breffni Park to deny Cavan promotion. Further indications of well being have seen Ger Power and Wayne Hennessy leave the hurling panel to concentrate on football.

Championship displays last year weren't bad and although the first round against Kerry is a date with doom, the qualifier draw might deliver the opportunity to extend the summer.