Hurling Power Rankings After The Second Week Of The 2025 Championship

The Munster and Leinster Hurling Championship round-robins provided an entertaining second instalment and the team rankings have become a little bit clearer in both competitions.

Here are our second power rankings of the 2025 hurling championship. (Here's our last hurling rankings, from the first round of Championship action).

The Allianz League champions restated their Championship credentials after escaping Ennis with a draw in round one. Undone by a red card, this time they were the beneficiary of some no nonsense officiating when Tipp youngster Darragh McCarthy was dismissed seconds into the game.

From then on there could only be one outcome - Cork racking up four goals with Brian Hayes again looking unplayable as the fulcrum of their attack.

Kilkenny overcame a spirited Antrim effort to make it two wins from two in Leinster this season, having handily beaten an underwhelming Galway in round one.

Eoin Cody was on song and while the scoreline read 2-30 to 2-12, it is worth noting that Kilkenny scored 2-13 to Antrim's 0-01 from the 48th minute on.

The Cats can only beat what is in front of them before worrying about the might of Munster later in the season.

Limerick had to sit back and enjoy the show on their rest week, with the other four Munster counties battling it out for points.

A point on the road at Tipp wasn't a disaster and they have seen the Premier County drop points since, but they will be wary of Waterford.

They know that clash next week, another away day, will be massive in the outcome of this Championship.

What a couple of weeks it has been for the Deise. They were idle as their four Championship rivals all failed to rack up more than a single point in week one and took advantage of that fact with a statement win vs the reigning All-Ireland Champions.

Waterford simply had too much for Clare at Walsh Park and Stephen Bennett - playing through the pain barrier - was central to their success. There is a real belief that they could advance from the Munster round-robin for the first time in history.

It was hard to get a read on Clare in round one despite their spirited fightback at home to Cork. The Banner overturned a 12-point deficit but no doubt beneffited from the man advantage that preceded their comeback.

Losing Tony Kelly on the eve of their trip to Waterford was a blow but they looked second best against a side that, on paper at least, they would have expected to beat.

A frustrating weekend for a Tipperary side which looks to be back in the ascendancy. Darragh McCarthy's red card, just seconds into the fixture, was justified but derailed their momentum after a good start a week prior.

Cork had too much after the 19-year-old was sent off, although to Tipp's credit they battled admirably in trading scores early in the second-half before eventually fading.

Sat at the foot of the Munster standings with just a point, Tipp will know that more winnable fixtures lie ahead.

Dublin were the benficiaries of a controversial ghost-goal in their win against Wexford - a moment which undobtedly had a momentum swing in their four-point win over Wexford.

The sides both showed their worth at Parnell Park and the Dubs will be eager to assert their claim to be the second best time in Leinster right now.

Wexford showed serious fight given the circumstances they faced in their controversial loss in the capital. Lee Chin's body block was representative of the fight shown by the Yellowbellies on the day but his late goal could not get them close enough.

Hope is not lost after their opening round win over Antrim.

Galway played out a hugely underwhelming opening performance in their defeat to Kilkenny, prompting debate that Offaly could overturn them in Tullamore.

However, form reverted to type and Galway showed their status as one of the top teams in Leinster with an empathic win. A welcome win for Micheal O'Donoghue's men but it is now time to back it up.

A packed crowd of 10,000 showed up for what was billed to be a potential upset for Offaly. Instead, they were far from their performance ceiling, losing 2-25 to 1-14.

Another defeat for Davy Fitzgerald's men. They started strong against The Cats and would have been dreaming after leading by a point going into the interval. The nature of their second-half humbling is a concern, however.