Excited, nervous, curious, apprehensive, sceptical. Just some of my emotions ahead of the start of the Allianz Football League this weekend.

I can only imagine what some of the players, coaches and, most importantly, referees are feeling ahead of the big throw-in.

I have only met Jim Gavin once, which was at a ‘sandbox’ game on the new rules held in the Connacht Centre of Excellence last June. While giving the presentation on the rules, he was everything you would expect him to be: calm, articulate, polished, commanding.

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But even he must be feeling the squeeze today ahead of a monumental shift in the way Gaelic football is played, officiated and viewed.

The closest I remember to these changes as a player was when the five-handpass rule was trialled in the preseason competitions in 2019 - and even that pales in comparison. We played Galway in the FBD League and it’s fair to say it was chaotic.

For the few weeks before the game we were getting used to counting the handpasses and letting a teammate know when he received the ball what the count was.

A couple of minutes into the game, players and backroom teams from both sides were shouting random numbers at each other as the ball was being handpassed around to cause as much confusion as possible for the man in possession.

There was even a story going round that a fake northern accent was heard from the sideline in a recent challenge game between Louth and Antrim, resulting in a ball being brought forward 50m under the new dissent rule. If true, that’s bringing the dark arts to a whole new level.

I think it’s fair to say most Gaelic football followers accept that some form of change is needed. But I can’t help thinking that this is too much, too soon. I really feel the FRC could have narrowed down the changes to a more gradual introduction for this year’s League rather than the huge raft of them all at once.

The biggest surprise for me is that the rules, as they are now, are going to be introduced to the club game from the end of March. As someone who is still playing club football, I can tell you it’s a million miles from being ready.

I attended an inter-county challenge game at the weekend and twice the attacking team scored on the counterattack, but for a couple of seconds on each occasion only had two defenders left inside their own half.

The linesman, to be fair, had the flag up on both occasions, but because they weren’t mic’d up, the referee didn’t see the flag, continued with the game and the scores stood. The consternation when that inevitably happens at club level will be enormous.

A real positive aspect from that game was the amount of long contested kick outs and high fielding on view.

The ironic thing is that there has been barely a whisper about the actual start of the League and the blockbuster games that are on this weekend.

That opens a completely different conversation about how poorly the start of the Leagues have been promoted by the GAA but that’s for another day. For now, let the chaos begin.

Division One preview

Trying to pick the winner of Division One is nearly an impossible task. If you put all eight teams into a hat and pulled out the winning team, the manager of that team would probably ask you to put their name back in the hat.

The new condensed season and Championship structure haven’t made a Division One League final an attractive prospect for a lot of managers.

Mayo, the champions in 2023, are Exhibit A as to why. Knocked out of the Connacht Championship a week later by Roscommon before being pummelled by Dublin in the quarter-final.

Derry are Exhibit B, the calamitous defeat to Donegal three weeks after winning the League title and their tame exit to Kerry in a quarter-final meant their season ended in a damp squib.

But still, I can’t help but be excited about the prospect of the biggest and best teams going head-to-head over the next few months. These truly are the best eight teams in the country, which is rare enough. Monaghan and Roscommon people might disagree.

Armagh will get their first experience of having a target on their backs as All-Ireland Champions. It will be interesting to see how they respond to that.

Donegal look like they might be leading the pack in terms of All-Ireland contenders. The return of Odhran McFadden-Ferry, Eoin McHugh and, of course, Michael Murphy will no doubt bolster their squad.

I expect them to come out of the blocks early in the League, get points on the board and then ease off the gas with a rematch with Derry in Ulster Jim McGuinness’s focus.

Tyrone are a team I am really looking forward to seeing under Malachy O Rourke, while my own county Mayo may struggle with a raft of changes to the panel. Galway look like they could be at full strength from the off and should be strong contenders.

Winners: Galway
Relegation: Derry, Mayo

Division Two preview

The race for promotion in Division two looks clearcut. Roscommon, who have been dubbed the West Brom of the GAA, look set to bounce back up again at the first attempt.

The return of Ciarain Murtagh to the squad and Ben O’Carroll back to full fitness will bolster their hopes for 2025. Monaghan, with a new management team involving my old teammate Andy Moran, should also have enough to get back to the top.

Louth are the most likely challengers, but I would fear they might hit a slump after a very progressive two years for them.

Cork and Westmeath’s squads have taken huge hits with an exodus of players leaving both set ups.

Down are a team I haven’t overly been impressed with in the last few years, so I am interested to see how they fare against stronger opposition.

Promotion: Roscommon, Monaghan
Relegation: Westmeath, Meath

Division Three preview

Kildare, under new management, should get out of Division Three at the first attempt - but not without a fight.

The scrap for the other place will go down to the wire. Clare, with Peter Keane in charge, have been bolstered by the return of several regulars to the squad. Sligo are a side that are improving and Aaron Kernan’s addition to the backroom team looks like a shrewd appointment by Tony McEntee.

Offaly, with Mickey Harte in joint charge, will be an interesting watch and, as for the drop, it looks like Laois and Leitrim, with huge dropouts from both squads, will go down.

Promotion: Kildare, Clare
Relegation: Laois, Leitrim

Division Four preview

In Division Four I fancy Limerick and Longford to get promoted.
Oisín McConville’s Wicklow and Wexford, who were desperately unlucky not to go up last year, are their most likely challengers.

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