New rules, old rivalries, retirements, revivals, an All Star in exile and a manager under pressure. Who says the League doesn’t matter? It does to Mayo.

If they don’t get their act together soon, then instead of Dublin, Galway, Donegal and Tyrone, they will be hanging out with teams like Louth, Down, Westmeath and Cavan next year.

As for their manager Kevin McStay, it's already clear he’ll need a big summer to survive.

Read more: Jack O’Connor issues David Clifford update as Kerry prepare for “tough” Donegal date

Read more: It's not time to wave red flag, but GAA rule changes must be tweaked

If he’s under pressure, then the same can be said for Dessie Farrell. Dublin managers always are, even those with an impeccable CV, which two-time All-Ireland winner, Farrell, has.

But the quintet of retirements has robbed his dressing room of legends. Long term, that’s for the best, but short term, it’s a problem. Right now few would predict an All-Ireland for the Dubs. Then again, we said that in 2023.

So let’s see who’s hot and who’s not after two weeks of the Allianz Football League. . .

1: KERRY

The new rules were designed to make the sport rather than any individual team better.

But if you had to select one side who’ll prosper under them, it’s this one, the team with the greatest collective of forwards around.

Already we can see the benefits of players operating in more space around the scoring zone - the two Geaneys getting 4-4 between them on Sunday - and with David Clifford still to come back, Kerry are in line to prosper.

Against Derry, their finishing was clinical, their comeback scarcely believable. It took them 70 minutes to get five goals against the reigning League champions, a team who conceded nine in eight League matches last year.

2: DONEGAL

You can win an All-Ireland with an average team. You’ll never win one with an average manager.

That’s why Jim McGuinness’ Second Coming is so significant in Donegal.

Not only is he a motivator, but he’s also a clever strategist and brilliant tactician.

Saturday reminded us of that, Donegal’s dismantling of Dublin offering us a glimpse of the summer ahead. Oisin Gallen is their Clifford, not as good as the Kerry forward, but so significant a threat to the Ulster champions.

With Michael Murphy also back, the burden on Gallen will ease somewhat. Can you see them winning an All-Ireland in July? No question.

3: GALWAY

It wasn’t a contest in Castlebar on Sunday, more of an annihilation.

The irony is that while Padraic Joyce has steered well clear of praising the new rules, he is cleverly utilising them to his side’s advantage.

On seven occasions on Sunday, they fired over two-pointers. That changed the game, Shane Walsh excelling, backed up by an impressive support cast: Sean Kelly, Paul Conroy, Cillian O Curraoin.

This time last year they were struck down by injuries. Now they are building a squad, and also, it appears, a League winning team.

4: DUBLIN

It’s easy to write off Dublin, especially with so many big hitters disappearing: McCarthy, Fenton, McCaffrey, Fitzsimons, Mannion.

But if there is one thing worse than old stagers walking towards the exit, it is old stagers outstaying their welcome.

Long-term, Dublin will be better off without the ageing stars. As for 2025, it’s inevitable that the loss of so many experienced players will curtail their Championship chances.

For Dubs, the League is never a priority. Dessie Farrell will experiment because he has to rather than because he wants to.

Unlikely to win silverware in spring, don’t make the mistake of writing off their summer just yet.

5: ARMAGH

As All-Ireland champions, Armagh don’t have the same aura Dublin or Kerry had.

Rather their status is similar to Down’s in 1991 or Donegal’s in 1992, having come from nowhere to become improbable champions.

Their aim is to avoid becoming a one-and-done team and already they are evolving, the new rules dictating they must.

No other side in the country has a goalkeeper as confident in front of goal as Ethan Rafferty, who scored 0-5 last Saturday, creating another two-point score along the way. The game's restructure is made for keepers like him, seeing as he isn’t really a keeper, merely a forward with No1 on his back.

Saturday’s win was vital as Rian O’Neill’s absence is a worry.

6: TYRONE

They weren’t good on Saturday but that doesn’t mean they won’t be good in May, June and July.

Like Rafferty, Niall Morgan is going to be influential in attack, and by the time the Canavan boys hit hard ground, they will be hard stopped.

7: DERRY

The scoreline often dictates the narrative. So Derry lost a game on Sunday they appeared sure to win and the focus zoned in on what they did wrong rather than the many things they got right.

To start with, 1-24 is a serious score to put up against Kerry; remember it was only 0-10 when they last met the Kingdom in the All-Ireland quarter finals.

Tohill, Rodgers and Glass will provide them with big ball winners throughout 2025. They need a win soon to ease their relegation fears but their summer is shaping up nicely.

8: MAYO

Yes, it’s February and seasons are judged on the months when the days are longer and the nights shorter.

But Mayo were atrocious on Sunday and are clearly in need of their experienced players coming back to guide the newcomers through this sticky spell. Kevin McStay, more than any other manager in Ireland, needs a big Championship.

9: ROSCOMMON

A dark horse to watch out for. Their forwards are good and their scores are piling up. In two games they have scored 4-38 against decent opposition, Louth and Down.

If Roscommon are an up and coming team then Davy Burke is an up and coming manager. Keep and eye on him, not just his team.

10: MONAGHAN

Forever flying under the radar and forever defying expectations, Monaghan are two from two and eyeing a return to Division 1. Don’t bet against them.

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