Armagh
Manager: Kieran McGeeney (11th year).
Main man: Rían O’Neill.
2024 league form: Armagh finished second in Division Two to secure promotion – winning five games and drawing two. They lost the Division Two final by a single point to Donegal.
Outlook: Much will depend on whether Armagh approach the year suffering any form of All-Ireland comedown. Orchard fans will hope the team can enter the season full of conviction and energy. Off the field issues over the winter won’t have helped though, and a losing start in Salthill would put them on the back foot early.
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Opening fixture: Saturday v Galway, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 5.15pm.
Prediction: Eighth.
Derry
Manager: Paddy Tally (First year).
Main man: Conor Glass.
2024 league form: League champions. Derry finished top of Division One with six wins and one defeat. They beat Dublin in the league final, after a penalty shoot-out.
Outlook: Derry have gone on quite the journey since winning the league under Mickey Harte last year – but not in the direction many would have predicted. The talent is still there, though. And with Paddy Tally now at the helm Derry will be looking for an early season bounce to start rebuilding confidence.
Opening fixture: Saturday v Tyrone, Healy Park, Omagh, 6pm.
Prediction: Fourth.
Donegal
Manager: Jim McGuinness (Second year of second stint as manager).
Main man: Michael Murphy.
2024 league form: Donegal won the Division Two title, achieved promotion and went through the league undefeated. They won six of their seven group games in Division Two, drew the other and then beat Armagh in the decider.
Outlook: Given the new rules, Shaun Patton could yet prove to be Donegal’s main man but there is no doubt the return of Michael Murphy ushers in another layer of strength to a dressingroom already growing in belief after last season.
Opening fixture: Sunday v Kerry, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 1.45pm.
Prediction: Third.
Dublin
Manager: Dessie Farrell (Sixth year).
Main man: Con O’Callaghan.
2024 league form: Despite losing their opening two games (to Monaghan and Mayo) in last year’s league, Dublin won all five subsequent group fixtures to progress to the final against Derry, which Farrell’s side lost after a penalty shoot-out.
Outlook: There are 16 new players on the Dublin panel – including the returning Davy Byrne, former Dubs hurling captain Eoghan O’Donnell and ex-AFL player James Madden. But with the retirements of James McCarthy and Brian Fenton already confirmed, and more expected, Dublin are likely to be in experimental mode during the league. They might need Con O’Callaghan back sooner rather than later.
Opening fixture: Saturday v Mayo, Croke Park, 7.30pm.
Prediction: Seventh.
Galway
Manager: Pádraic Joyce (Sixth year).
Main man: Seán Kelly.
2024 league form: Hampered by injuries, Galway struggled to pick up wins in last year’s league – finishing sixth in the table following two victories, four defeats and one draw.
Outlook: If Galway can keep players away from the treatment table and on the playing pitch instead, they have the talent to beat all comers. The availability of footballers like Seán Kelly, Paul Conroy, Damien Comer and Shane Walsh will determine the Tribesmen’s season.
Opening fixture: Saturday v Armagh, Pearse Stadium, Salthill, 5.15pm.
Prediction: Second.
Kerry
Manager: Jack O’Connor (Third year of third stint as manager).
Main man: David Clifford.
2024 league form: Kerry missed out on a place in the league final last year on their head-to-head record with Dublin. Both teams finished with 10 points, joint second place, but the Dubs had beaten Kerry when they met at Croke Park.
Outlook: Kerry enter the league without a raft of players. David Clifford is among those being rested for the early rounds, Stephen O’Brien and Adrian Spillane have retired, while it’s not clear when the Dr Crokes contingent will return. It could be a ropy campaign, but Kerry generally find a way to survive.
Opening fixture: Sunday v Donegal, Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, 1.45pm.
Prediction: Sixth.
Mayo
Manager: Kevin McStay (Third year).
Main man: Ryan O’Donoghue.
2024 league form: Mayo finished fourth in Division One – winning four games and losing three. Having claimed the league title in 2023, McStay’s side never appeared overly ravenous in their pursuit to retain the crown.
Outlook: McStay realises Mayo’s season will be judged on their progress, or lack thereof, in the championship – and given the manner in which they lost several big games last summer, that is where their prime focus will be in 2025.
Opening fixture: Saturday v Dublin, Croke Park, 7.30pm.
Prediction: Fifth.
Tyrone
Manager: Malachy O’Rourke (First year).
Main man: Niall Morgan.
2024 league form: Tyrone finished fifth in Division One last year after posting three wins and four defeats – four points away from a top two spot and three away from the relegation positions.
Outlook: O’Rourke will be keen to ingrain consistency in a group devoid of it over recent years. With Morgan likely to be a key weapon under the new rules, expect Tyrone to target a strong league showing to build momentum for the championship.
Opening fixture: Saturday v Derry, Healy Park, Omagh, 6pm.
Prediction: First.
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