KEVIN CASSIDY: Painting a prettier picture

WHEN sitting down today to pen this week’s article, it has just dawned on me how easy this has become.

What I mean by that is that, now, when I sit down after a weekend of football, there are so many interesting talking points to touch on when you compare that to last year when it was like pulling hen’s teeth.

There are many things happening all across the divisions in this year’s National League.

It is virtually impossible to touch on them all and then I cast my mind back to last year when you would struggle to find something interesting to talk about.

I covered two games last week with TG4 and it was interesting to see the differences in how teams approached different scenarios.

We started off with the Mayo and Tyrone game. To be honest, this was probably the worst game to date in terms of actual action and scoring opportunities.

Both teams, especially in the first half, played a slow lethargic brand of football which resulted in a boring first half.

The game did catch fire in the second half when Mayo emptied the bench and brought some of their big hitters and to the fray.

The men from the West claimed the all-important two points, which gives them a fighting chance of staying up.

The second game between Donegal and Armagh was excellent, especially from Donegal point of view.

Donegal turned in the best performance of the season and they simply tore Armagh to pieces, and, if we are honest, they embarrassed them all over the pitch.

Apart from perhaps the first five minutes of the game, where Armagh looked okay, Donegal dominated them on every facet of game.

Then, when Forker was sent off, there was only ever going to be one winner from that point.

I fully understand that Armagh are coming off the back of a very successful season and may be missing a few, but there is no doubt that Kieran McGeeney will be worried with what he witnessed on Sunday.

At this point in the time, Donegal are head and shoulders above last year’s All-Ireland champions.

Elsewhere. the Dubs came back from the dead to claim the two points away to Kerry in a packed Tralee. That performance might just do wonders for that young Dublin side.

If Dublin can add a number of experienced heads like Con O’Callaghan, John and Paddy Small, in around those young guys, then they just might have a big say in this year’s championship yet.

This weekend, I’ll make my way to Salthill where the top two clash. This fixture should be interesting because, at the minute, these two teams are the standout favourites for this year’s All-Ireland.

Galway have been impressive and when you consider they have lost the last two All-Ireland finals then you can understand the hunger that burns deep inside.

In the case of Donegal, they will also be hurting from last year’s defeat at the hands of Padraic Joyce‘s team. So, this weekend’s fixture should be an interesting one.

This week I’ll go for Galway, Dublin, Armagh and Kerry.