O'Byrne and McKenna Cups: The new appointments to the managerial hot seats in Westmeath and Offaly mean the focus will be on the midlands for the early part of 2004.
The reign of Páidí Ó Sé begins in earnest on Sunday when Westmeath's O'Byrne Cup campaign gets under way against Louth in Mullingar (2 p.m.). The county played four challenge matches over the winter, against Dublin, Roscommon (twice) and Mayo, winning two. They also visited Sunderland football club to use their professional facilities.
Ó Sé has brought Dublin-based Kerryman Tomás Ó Flatharta in as a selector but has also maintained a strong link with the county hierarchy as former referee and current county board secretary Paddy Collins is also part of the management.
"Since the Dublin match we have had five or six sessions and have played Roscommon twice, winning and losing one, while we also beat an understrength Mayo side," said Collins.
"The trip to Sunderland was extremely worth while and even though it is not the New Year yet things have been going well."
There are four other O'Byrne Cup games this weekend. Offaly play their first competitive game under new manager Gerry Fahey when they travel to Enniscorthy to face Wexford, who are also under new management with Pat Roe.
However, the new dawn doesn't look so bright for Westmeath's midland neighbours - incidentally, the teams face each other in the opening round of the championship next summer - as several old hands have decided to call it a day. Vinny Claffey and Finbar Cullen have left, while there is no place in the panel for John Kenny or the Grennan brothers, James and Seán.
Fahey has named an almost full-strength line-up for Sunday, with Ciarán McManus, back living in Ireland, selected at midfield. The most notable absentee is Colm Quinn, who has a groin injury.
"Things have been going quite well," said Fahey. "We picked a strong side but you have to remember Wexford are a Division One team now. We've played no challenge matches yet so this is the first chance I'm getting to see the lads in competitive action."
Leinster champions Laois travel to Longford with a largely experimental side. They welcome back the prodigal son, Martin Delaney, to the starting line-up after several years in the US.
Delaney was a key member of the 1997 and 1998 Laois minor sides that won an All-Ireland (1997) and were runners-up; he also played for the under-21s beaten in the All-Ireland final by Kerry in 1998.
Elsewhere, Carlow host Wicklow and Kilkenny play DIT in Freshford.
In Ulster, a full round of McKenna Cup fixtures this weekend sees the rudderless Fermanagh - a manager has yet to be appointed to replace Dominic Corrigan, who resigned a month ago - entertaining Donegal in Enniskillen.
Malachy O'Rourke turned down the Fermanagh job to give his full attention to Ulster champions the Loup, as they chase All-Ireland glory. A three-man committee of Peter Carty (vice-chairman), Tom Boyle (secretary) and Marius Mulligan (treasurer) has been set up to find a replacement.
Last season's selector Seán O'Reilly is looking after the panel, which is lacking the bones of the side that reached the All-Ireland quarter-final. Paul Brewster is not expected back for several months and captain Raymie Gallagher is focusing on his commitments to Dublin club St Brigid's, who are also in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Further absentees are Tom Brewster, Colm Brady and Ronan McCabe, all in Australia, while Ronan Gallagher (Jordanstown), Ciarán O'Reilly and Marty McGrath (both Queen's) are representing their universities.
There are four other McKenna Cup fixtures. Armagh play St Mary's in Lurgan and Queen's face Cavan at Kingscourt. The all intercounty affairs are between Derry and Antrim in Maghera, and Down and Monaghan in Clones.
Meanwhile, the annual Dublin v Blue Stars matches take place in Naomh Mearnóg's grounds, in Portmarnock, this Sunday. The Dublin hurlers face the Blue Stars at 12.45 p.m. followed by the football equivalent at 2 p.m. Conal Keaney and Shane Ryan are set to play in both games.
OFFALY (SF v Wexford): K Meehan; B Mooney, C Daly, M Flynn; M Mitchell, G Rafferty, C Slattery; C McManus, A McNamee; C Farrell, P Kellaghan, N McNamee; T Deehan, N Coughlan, J Reynolds.SUNDAY
(2.0 unless stated)
Dr McKenna Cup SF: Section A: Derry v Antrim, Maghera. Section B: Queen's University v Cavan, Kingscourt; Fermanagh v Donegal, Enniskillen. Section C: St Mary's Belfast v Armagh, Lurgan; Monaghan v Down, Clones.
O'Byrne Cup SF: Westmeath v Louth, Mullingar; Carlow v Wicklow, Carlow; Longford v Laois, Dromard; Wexford v Offaly, Enniscorthy; Kilkenny v DIT Freshford.
