THE championship got up and running last weekend and, if I’m being 100 per cent honest, I think it was a step below what we saw in the National League as opposed to what we all expect with the championship.

Obviously, the main focus was on the Donegal and Derry game. Perhaps that lack of real bite and intensity was more down to Derry’s performance than anything else, but I just felt it didn’t have that championship feel to it.

We will get to Donegal in a little while, but let’s start with Derry, and, to be honest, I really don’t know where to begin.

This team is so far removed from what we saw two or three seasons ago it’s actually frightening at this stage.

Derry have had their fair share of injuries this season, but let us make no bones about it. When we saw the 15 that took to the pitch on Sunday, it was a very good football team.

I don’t like to be too critical of Derry because I actually like them as a team and their players have given tremendous service over the last number of years, but you could tell from the first whistle that they just lacked that real belief and sense of purpose that they had under Rory Gallagher.

We can tiptoe around this issue all we like, but the fact of the matter is that this Derry team are still hurting from losing Rory Gallagher.

Then, from what happened last year, under Mickey Harte and again now under Paddy Tally, then something has to happen to put an end to the saga.

To those of you reading this who find it difficult to understand how this happens then let me explain. I have no doubt that last year and this year these Derry players have done everything asked of them: they do their gym, they do their training, they are committed and they are driven.

That said, the small inches that make such a difference at this level is all between the two ears. What do I mean by that?

If you have any doubts at all about your set-up or how you are playing or how you are being coached to play, then you will be found out on the biggest stage of all.

I’m talking about that unselfish run that you’re supposed to do into that space or that run that you’re supposed to do to track back and fill space. Those little things stop happening if your mind is elsewhere and at the minute that’s exactly what I see with this Derry team.

I felt sorry last year from Mickey Harte and I feel sorry this year for Paddy Tally because none of this is their fault. This is an issue that happened within a set-up which should have been dealt with a hell of a lot better.

In my opinion Derry are at the point where they need to actually maybe bring Rory back or make it crystal clear that this is never going to happen. One of those two things simply needs to happen and happen quickly.

Donegal, on the other hand, were simply awesome from start to finish. They dictated the pace of the game and they dismantled Derry on both kickouts. For me, as soon as Shaun Patton saved the penalty that was curtains for this Derry team. Donegal saw Derry flinch and they put their foot on the throat and that was game over.

Donegal also sent a strong warning shot to the rest of the country by flexing their muscles late on and emptying the bench, showing the rest of Ireland that unlike last year they all have quality subs to come off the bench.

At this point in time, Donegal are out in front as All-Ireland contenders and now it’s all about how Jim manages that within the squad.

I have no doubt that the message within the squad is one game at a time and nobody will be looking anywhere else other than Clones in two weeks’ time. So, from a Donegal point of view, it’s one game down, next one up.

We go again this weekend with the likes of Armagh and Tyrone entering into the championship. So, let’s hope this weekend has a little more spice and bite to it.