Ulster

Antrim

Strengths: Improving confidence levels after some reasonable championship displays in recent years. Won B All-Ireland last winter. Sense of purpose about Brian White's management.

Weaknesses: Direst championship record in world. Despite optimistic noises, top forward Kevin Madden's broken jaw is unlikely to heal by next weekend.

Prediction: Despite grim statistic, Antrim's defeats have seldom been by much, but although Down are in decline, they should repeat last year's first-round victory. Sometimes a losing streak can just be hypnotic.

Armagh

Strengths: Defending champions. Crossmaglen again club kingpins. Excellent half-back and full-forward lines. Showed good moral fibre in tricky situations last year.

Weaknesses: Rested after an uninterested league. Defending champions. Retirement of Jarlath Burns (don't mourn, organise!) weakens centrefield. Full back spot still dodgy.

Prediction: Path to the final open enough. Tyrone are rebuilding and Donegal not as strong as last year. After that, Derry look too strong.

Cavan

Strengths: Terrible and bitter end to the championship. There had been signs of revival during league but last week's defeat held little consolation. Admittedly Derry are more formidable this year but the scale of the beating and the ill-advised physicality (Derry!) were sour notes of departure: "The Seven Dwarfs take on the World Wrestling Federation," was the succinct summary of one amused Derryman.

Derry

Strengths: Eamonn Coleman appears fully back in the groove - almost liberated after the withdrawal of Dream Team co-manager Adrian McGuckin. Defence is tight, centrefield on fire with Anthony Tohill magnificent and attack relentless. Enda Muldoon rampaging at full forward. Joe Brolly still to return.

Weaknesses: Hints of the old failing of maybe making a move too soon are of concern. Occasional lapses on full-back line could become costly if they proliferate. Attack is maybe a little two-dimensional.

Prediction: Have straightforward route to final. On current form, they should win Ulster and whereas they could be vulnerable to an inspired day by Galway or Kerry forwards, Meath look only team capable of staying with them.

Donegal

Strengths: Consistently competitive in recent championships without making the breakthrough. Some neat ball-players and the hyper-kinetic Jim McGuinness in the centre. Have been weakened by emigration (boom? what boom?) and the injury-prone McGuinness has tweaked his hamstring but is expected to recover.

Weaknesses: A bit lightweight up front. Although they have pushed the last two Ulster champions all the way, there is a sense that they haven't the artillery to win themselves.

Prediction: Disposing of Fermanagh earns a semi-final with Armagh or Tyrone, which they are unlikely to win.

Down

Strengths: The same few All-Ireland medallists still around. Last year's out-of-the-blue blitz of Tyrone proved that they can still rise to a challenge on any given day. Last year's minor success means there's some new talent on tap.

Weaknesses: There has been a lack of depth to the rebuilding programme, with only Shane Mulholland of the newcomers really making an impact. The minors will take a few years to come through. Lack of response to Armagh's demolition job in last year's final took the shine off Tyrone result.

Prediction: Relegated in league. Should beat Antrim to earn semi-final against Derry. Not a great reward this year. Another test for Pete McGrath before canonisation.

Fermanagh

Strengths: Momentum present after a second year's championship defeat of Monaghan and a persistent league campaign in Division One. Forwards are better on the summer pitches. There's a good chance Tom Brewster will have recovered in time for Donegal match.

Weaknesses: Defence hinted against Monaghan that it may not be as sturdy. Capitulated inexplicably against Tyrone last year. Mightn't be able to keep their attack adequately supplied.

Prediction: Donegal present a realistic challenge for Fermanagh but it will be a step up for them to meet it.

Monaghan

Fought hard last week but were well contained by Fermanagh and put under pressure by their opponents' forwards. The radical introduction of so many under-21s was always going to be for investment rather than quick pay-out purposes. Noel Marron has retired and the rebuilding will continue next year when a better League campaign will be expected.

Tyrone

Strengths: Rising talent from exceptional minor and under-21 teams. Return of the county's most successful and most charismatic management team, Art McRory and Eugene McKenna, who made a senior success of the last crop of gifted under-21s. Peter Canavan remains the central personality.

Weaknesses: Still a little short of in-depth strength necessary for sustained championship challenge. Young talent requires more development time. When the hammer comes down, Canavan still carries disproportionate burden.

Prediction: Opening draw against champions Armagh is a 50-50 call. Winners should go all the way to the final but would be outsiders against Derry.