Quick-fire league draws praise

The new formula for the Allianz Football League, intended to improve its status and appeal, will get its tasting this Sunday. The 2002 competition has been compressed into a 12-week period and will be played in one calendar year for the first time.

The formula has already come in for some praise. At yesterday's launch in Dublin three intercounty managers expressed approval. Each remained reticent, however, about their own team's chances of success.

Tommy Lyons enjoyed league success with Offaly in 1998 and he returns there on Sunday for his first step in what may be similar success with Dublin. And like Cork manager Larry Tompkins and Wicklow manager John O'Leary he sees much sense in switching to the all-spring format.

"There's no doubt that the pre-Christmas games in the past were not always competitive," says Lyons. "You almost felt obliged to rest your best players then.

"So, like everyone else, we're really looking forward to starting now. We've looked at something like 50 players in various competitive matches over the last number of weeks and we're down to 38 now. We're hopeful as well that we can get 24 good players out of that bunch.

"It will take two or three months to get settled but we will get there. If you look at Galway last year they were always changing players in the league and would have no more than six or seven of their All-Ireland side each time. What they were doing was building a deep squad and that paid off in winning the All-Ireland."

Tompkins has equal praise for the formula that is designed to gain optimum participation of players and also give more relevance to championship ambitions. It is, he says, almost certain to give the league greater importance across all counties.

"I think if any team is serious about doing well in the championship they will want to do well in the league this year. In the past a lot of those games before Christmas were dead ducks really, but now teams have done a lot of preparations and they will be out to win from the start.

"We've had four or five weeks of good preparation now and there is a real appetite and enthusiasm there. We did have a 'good run last year and it's no secret that I want another good run this year. I do feel this team is as good as any in the country and we have players maturing now."

O'Leary enters the competition with full management responsibilities for the first time. A selector with Dublin for four years, he takes now takes Wicklow to their opening Division 2A clash with 2000 All-Ireland champions Kerry.

"Well the pressure is a little bit different," he says, "and so much of the buck seems to stop with you. Of course there are different expectations in Wicklow compared to Dublin, but they have the Leinster club title now and they're mad keen to do well.

"In the past as well I think some managers would play down the league. With the qualifier series now, the depth of the panel is a lot more important and that will automatically increase the importance of the league."

The opening round has thrown up some interesting games. Cork travel to Westmeath for a repeat of the Division Two final last year - which Westmeath won - and in Division 1B defending champions Mayo face Connacht rivals Sligo. Most anticipated, however, is the Dublin-Offaly clash in Tullamore.

"Well I'm sure they'll have the red carpet out and champagne in the dressing-room," says Lyons. "And then they'll come out and beat the hell out of us on the field. But of course Offaly are always hard to beat in Tullamore."

In terms of predictions, all three were non-committal: "Well, I think we all accept that there has been a renaissance in Connacht teams in the last couple of years," says Lyons, "but hopefully they will back off a little bit now. I reckon Westmeath and Cork will be ones to watch."

Tompkins agreed that Cork will be out to win but he also expected Tyrone to be trying hard: "They were unlucky last year with the foot-and-mouth and have a lot of good players coming through now from minor and under-21 grade."

O'Leary's main target is to gain promotion, and despite being without the Rathnew contingent for the opening rounds, he remains confident: "With Rathew players doing well in the club championship it raises the confidence and expectations of the whole team. And while they're gone it also gives me the chance to look at new players."

The new format has all group games completed by the end of March - with some games on Saturdays - with the semi-finals on April 14th and the finals on April 28th. (Croke Park won't be available for either).

There will also be television coverage by TG4, starting on Sunday with the clash of Galway and Donegal at Ballybofey.