Louth has achieved a historic milestone by securing a place in the last eight of the All-Ireland series for the first time, following a thrilling one-point victory over Cork. In Northern Ireland, Crusaders face a new season without their long-time manager Stephen Baxter, with new coach Declan Caddell aiming to fill significant gaps left by departing players and injuries. Glentoran is undergoing a major rebuild under manager Declan Devine, who is seeking to improve on last season's disappointing performance by overhauling the squad and addressing financial concerns. Defending champions Larne aim for a third consecutive Gibson Cup title but face uncertainty regarding the potential departure of key player Lee Bonis. Meanwhile, Linfield seeks to reclaim the Irish League title after two seasons of near misses and has made strategic signings to strengthen their squad for the upcoming campaign.