The hardest championship of all.
The mini All-Ireland is run off within a matter of weeks, but the impact of the opening games are often felt long beyond the early Sundays of May and June.
Fermanagh and Antrim kick things off this weekend in the preliminary round and, ahead of the summer of action up north, we’ve taken a look at six players to watch out for this summer in the race for the Anglo-Celt cup.
Tyrone – Conor Meyler
The former Tyrone under-21 enjoyed a very impressive league, and despite Mickey Harte’s fears, he has really taken to senior football.
His early season form tailed off a little in the latter stages of the spring, and he was only a substitute for the league final win over Cavan.
However, he has serious football within him and, due to the overbearing pressure in the Ulster championship, he will get game time in his favoured wing-forward position.
Donegal – Stephen McBrearty
Rory Gallagher faces a huge test of his management as Donegal look to reassert their recent dominance in Ulster this summer.
They appear to lack the pace of the 2012 vintage, but McBrearty could be a solution.
Older brother Patrick has long since established himself as a permanent fixture in the Donegal starting XV now, and the younger McBrearty may fancy a role in the half-forward line.
His pace, and eye for a pass, may be crucial if the TÃr Chonail men are to return to the fast transition from back to front that they became known for in 2012 and 2014.
Derry – Ryan Bell
The Ballinderry man has been well known in Derry for a while now, but he came into his own in the league.
He scored 0-6 against Galway from corner forward, but still could not help his team to success
Any Derry forward who can take the pressure of Mark Lynch is always welcome, and Bell, at 22, could be set for a massive season, beginning with the opener with Tyrone.
Starred at Croke Park when the county won the Division Two title back in 2013 and he lit the championship up that summer, Down will tell you all about him.
He’s back in the red and white jersey again and he’s back playing a key role.
His proposed trip to the USA could well depend on the opening game being is a success or not, and Derry fans will be hoping to see more than just 70 minutes of him this summer.
Armagh – Â Shea Heffron
Kieran McGeeney is lucky to have a figure like Heffron covering about eight different positions in his squad at present.
We estimate that the Clann Éireann man covered multiple roles, sometimes in the same game during several disappointing league games.
His versatility may go against him when it comes to nailing down a championship spot, but we’d be surprised if McGeeney does not find some role for him.
Monaghan – Dessie Ward
The Ulster champions already have an impressive defensive system in place and Ward is the latest of the production line from the stony grey soil up north.
The UCD man impressed in all his college outings this year, and his ability to add to attacks, and pick off scores, makes him more than just a defender.
His link-up play off the shoulder may see him deployed closer to midfield in this year’s senior championship after an impressive run in the under-21 series.
Cavan – Gearóid McKiernan
Not really a secret anymore but the surprise package of 2016 in terms of how they have changed their style, much of it down to a focus on more of an offensive approach. McKiernan is crucial to that.
The league final with Tyrone was a seriously competitive clash and it gave Gearoid McKiernan a taste of life in Croke Park.
Playing at centre-forward this year, he has been a revelation for Terry Hyland’s men.
His talents have been masked, by the defensive nature of Cavan teams up ’til now, but on the ’40, he is able to properly express himself.
He may not be a new name, but he is certainly one to keep an eye on if Cavan are to cause a shock this summer. And they could.
