Genuine contenders in each province

And so the quest for the Sam Maguire starts all over again. What's especially intriguing about this year's search for the top prize in Gaelic football, however, is the number of genuine contenders in each province who will now experience a surge in adrenaline with the start of the championship.

There is a wide open look to the whole race. In Munster, Cork - regardless of what happens in tomorrow's league final - must be favourites. Kerry and Cork are on different sides of the draw and it looks as if we are in for one of those traditional provincial finals between the two. However, Kerry could experience more pitfalls along the way.

Kerry have the tougher route. First, Tipperary stand in the way and, if that hurdle is negotiated, Clare are waiting. Clare impressed me during the league. It was important to hold on to their Division One status and, in Ger Keane, Martin Daly and the ever-improving Ciaran Considine, they have some of the best forwards anywhere. But if Kerry come through those two tough games, it should stand to them and once into a Munster final anything can happen.

The league was a fruitful campaign for Cork because Mark O'Sullivan and Joe Kavanagh have rediscovered themselves while other younger players like Podsie O'Mahony, who has a fantastic work-rate, have developed immensely. They should comfortably reach the final in Munster.

The situation in Leinster is tougher to predict but I feel four counties - Meath, Kildare, Offaly and Dublin - are ahead of the pack. Dublin certainly seem to have the easier side of the draw and also have a hunger about them that reminds me of the Kerry team in 1997 when they won the league and went on to take the championship too.

Dessie Farrell's old head and ability to score has been complemented nicely by a revival in Brian Stynes's play. But probably the most impressive player in Dublin, for me, is Ciaran Whelan who, for a mid-fielder, has a tremendous facility to link with his forwards. Dublin should reach the final, but who will meet them is a far tougher question to answer.

Meath, Kildare and Offaly are all on the other side which represents something of a "group of death" in a knockout situation. I think Meath will probably come through. Kildare have a big job to come on from last year and, although I expect them to account for Offaly, I still think they have too many problems in transforming possession into scores and that Meath will ultimately be a big problem for them.

Trevor Giles, Tommy Dowd and John McDermott should all be back from various injuries to boost Meath - and, though I think they will make the final, I also believe that Dublin have made significant ground in the past 12 months and can go on to win Leinster.

As ever, the minefield that is Ulster football means that it is wide open - but possibly not as wide open as previous years. For me, two teams, Armagh and Tyrone, stand out. For the past few years I have been predicting a breakthrough from Armagh and I firmly believe this is going to be their year. They have tremendous talent in attack, but one of their biggest difficulties will be overcoming Donegal in their opening game, particularly if Diarmuid Marsden is out of the equation.

But every game in Ulster is a tough one, and the rate of progress that Armagh have made impresses me. I think they will reach the final from their side of the draw even if they have to do it the hard way because the winners of Derry-Cavan await them should they overcome Donegal.

The other side? Well, it has to be Tyrone purely because of Peter Canavan's presence. He's back to his best and I think that Down are a pale shadow of the team that played in the early 1990s. So, I'm sticking my neck out for an Armagh-Tyrone final with Armagh finally making it into the All-Ireland stages.

And, so, to Galway's defence of the Connacht and All-Ireland titles. I do think Galway will come out of Connacht again, but I'd worry about the injuries to players in the full back line. It is hard to replace quality corner backs and, if those injuries prevail, that could be an Achilles heel.

But I expect them to reach the final and, assuming that those injuries clear up and also Kevin Walsh regains fitness, then I'd also expect them to win the title again. Their main rivals are likely to be Mayo. I know Roscommon are an improving team but Mayo should still have the edge on them, particularly if they manage to unearth one or two scoring forwards. Ultimately, though, I believe Galway will win out in the west.

(In an interview with Philip Reid)