The weekend's matches previewed
Today
Division One A
Dublin v Tyrone, Croke Park, 7pm
Tyrone are the more obviously experimental side with injury and suspension restricting Mickey Harte's choice, but Dublin are showing eight changes to last year's championship team, including debuts for the St Vincent's pair of Diarmuid Connolly and Ger Brennan.
Tyrone also introduce two faces, Colm Cavanagh and Colm Donnelly, into what will be, for all four newcomers, the closest to championship conditions the NFL is likely to offer. It will also be an interesting evening for Raymond Mulgrew, the prodigiously talented Tyrone player, who will be expected to graduate to a starting place this year and Dublin's Niall O'Shea, being given the chance to stake a claim to the effectively vacant full-back spot after a toxic introduction to championship football at corner back last June in Longford.
Tyrone look better equipped, but it's also a very early moment of truth for Dublin, who might just record only a second Croke Park win over Ulster opposition in eight years.
Cork v Donegal, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm
Two teams coming out of the pre-season in buoyant form with Cork having won the McGrath Cup and Donegal in the McKenna Cup final in a couple of weeks' time. Both are fielding strong selections, despite a couple of long-term injuries (most notably Cork pair Graham Canty and Alan Quirke). Maybe the home team might have started some new faces in attack, but the front eight is basically the championship selection. Donegal have Kevin Cassidy back on the panel and he played encouragingly well at centrefield until dismissal for a second yellow card.
Division Two B
Meath v Cavan, Páirc Tailteann, 7.30pm
Colm Coyle hasn't wasted any time putting a mark on his new team, recalling the retired Darren Fay, who starts this evening in his usual full-back position, and also giving debuts to three of the county's emerging talents - Rathkenny duo Brian Meade and John Donegan, and Eoin Harrington of county champions Wolfe Tones.
New Cavan manager Donal Keoghan has been quick to shake things up a little himself, with Fermanagh's Rory Gallagher selected at full forward for his adopted county. Other newcomers include former minor Ray Cullivan at wing forward, Michael Cunningham in the half-forward line, and Jonathan Crowe in the half-back line.
Meath look slightly more likely to win.
Tomorrow
Division One A
Mayo v Kerry, Castlebar
Match of the day and carrying more baggage than the hold of a 747, as John O'Mahony's second coming takes up where the world stopped for Mayo just under five months ago.
The All-Ireland champions are far from settled, with the distraction of Crokes' club campaign and various trips - some still in progress - abroad. Like his Mayo counterpart, Pat O'Shea is a new appointment and has selection issues to resolve. It's interesting that he has chosen to try and replicate Kieran Donaghy's impact by mobilising Micheál Quirke at full forward. Back in the autumn, O'Mahony managed a Connacht team that dealt rather well with Donaghy, admittedly a couple of weeks into the post-All-Ireland revelry, and it will be worth watching how the team copes with the 6ft 7in Quirke.
Mayo fielded strong teams in the Connacht League over the past month, whereas Kerry skipped the McGrath Cup. Home win.
Fermanagh v Limerick, Clones 2pm
Whoever loses will find it terribly difficult to avoid the dreaded bottom-two finish. Fermanagh have been forced to switch the match because of work to Brewster Park.
Jason Stokes continues at full forward for Mickey O'Sullivan's team and his tussle with Fermanagh's returning All Star Barry Owens should be a pivotal rivalry. The belief here is that Fermanagh will have the edge.
Division One B
Kildare v Armagh, Newbridge
Kildare have reportedly been doing so much running in the off-season that they're fit enough to run a marathon - 70 minutes of football will feel like a sprint. They used that fitness to beat Armagh early last year, but, as they found out later in the year, it takes more than fitness to win big matches.
Manager John Crofton introduces two newcomers, with Mark Scanlon starting at wing back and Murt Donnelly at corner forward, both former under-21 standouts.
WeekendNFL (Throw-in 2.30pm, unless stated)
Midfield looks strong with Killian Brennan and new captain Dermot Earley, and John Doyle is back on board too at centre forward.
With his Crossmaglen contingent on club duty (that's seven players) and a couple of high-profile injuries, Armagh manager Joe Kernan found room for four debutants, including the very exiting young forward Kevin Dyas, last year's minor captain. Kieran Toner also starts at full back while Tony McClelland and Paudie McCreesh are at wing back.
Armagh are typically sluggish in the early rounds of the league, but so many fresh faces here could spark a reverse of that and thus the first points.
Galway v Derry, Pearse Stadium, 2pm
A year ago few people would have predicted Galway making the league final, and it's a similar scenario a year on. Peter Ford is down several big players through injuries and just absenteeism and this opening game will present as difficult a challenge as any - and yet they're still capable of overturning most teams in the country.
At least he has Joe Bergin back to full fitness, and Ja Fallon defying his age with a great comeback, and they'll need to show the leadership against a well established Derry team. Paul Bradley and Gerard O'Kane are both back to full fitness for Derry having been injured most of last year, and there is a debut for Ballinderry's Raymond Wilkinson at right half forward.
So there are now three Bradley's in the full-forward line - Paul, Paddy and Eoin - and it's Paddy who will always torment an opponents' defence. He was in fact in excellent form a week ago at the All Star exhibition game in Dubai - scoring 2-5 - and if he comes close to repeating that here Derry can definitely take the points.
Louth v Down, Drogheda
Louth's Martin Farrelly, JP Rooney and Ronan Carroll are all injured, and Mark Stanfield is suspended, and that makes way to two newcomers Dessie Finnegan and Michael Fanning in defence and midfield. Still, there is good scoring potential up front in the likes of Shane Lennon, Aaron Hoey and Darren Clarke, who has recovered from injury.
New Down manager Ross Carr but his side through two challenge games against Meath last weekend and he's clearly coming down to get the opening points, with Danny Hughes and Brian Sweeney having good scoring potential. The game is an all-ticket affair and practically sold out and whoever does come away with the points - and there's a slight fancy for Louth - will have definitely deserved them.
Westmeath v Laois, Cusack Park
Tomás Ó Flaharta is without the injured David O'Shaughnessy, James Davitt, Gary Dolan, John Keane and John Connellan, and that helps clear the way for teenage defender Kieran Gavin and Alan Rigney to make their league debuts. Fergal Wilson also returns having been exam-tied in recent weeks.
Ross Munnelly and Brendan Quigley return for Laois after missing that final, with Tom Kelly also restored to the half-back line, and while Westmeath should put it up to them, Laois remain a few steps ahead at this stage of the season.
Division Two A
Carlow v Clare, Dr Cullen Park
The losers aren't likely to have much hope of making the top four and with both sides looking a bit hesitant, this has the makings of a Dutch auction. Tight call but Carlow get it.
Leitrim v Offaly, Cloone
Offaly will be favourites to qualify for the play-offs but this is a sticky start to the campaign.
Westmeath import PJ Ward starts for Pat Roe's men whereas Leitrim have made a few changes on the Connacht League defeat by Sligo and also have manager Dessie Dolan back on the line after his recent indisposition. But it looks like an away win.
Longford v London, Pearse Park, 1pm
A certain win for Longford but Luke Dempsey's team will also have to be conscious of the need to take their chances.
Roscommon v Monaghan, Dr Hyde Park
Monaghan have been sturdy enough in the McKenna Cup and await a semi-final against holders Tyrone. Roscommon manager John Maughan welcomes back two influential players, Séamus O'Neill and David Casey, with the former starting at centre forward. Nonetheless the visitors are preferred.
Division Two B
Wicklow v Antrim, Aughrim
There can be no doubting the impact of Mick O'Dwyer on Wicklow football, with their O'Byrne Cup campaign including wins over Carlow and Wexford before they were eventually out-classed by Dublin. Maintain that over the coming weeks won't be easy but with home advantage they can definitely get the better of Antrim.
Tipperary v Sligo, Ardfinnan
With former All Star Declan Browne injury free again and still hungry for the game Tipperary are always capable of putting up high scores against any opposition, particularly in this division. New manager John Owens is aiming high as well, and yet Sligo have the greater spread of scoring forwards - including the in-form Mark Brehony and David Kelly - and that should allow them to take the spoils.
Waterford v Wexford, Dungarvan
Waterford manager John Kiely has been praising the commitment of his panel in recent weeks and that will be out to the test against a Wexford team that were Division One finalists less than two years ago.
Kiely is down a few first-choice players such as Gary Hurney and Karl O'Keeffe and Wexford won't be showing much sympathy in their efforts to get back to the higher status.
Munster Cup SH final
Cork v Tipperary, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2pm
Even in the pre-season, the Munster pecking order is unchanged. Both have been experimenting, particularly Cork, but this represents a good opportunity for Tipp to reverse the recent barren trend against the neighbours.
Seán Moran and Ian O'Riordan
