KEVIN CASSIDY: The Ulster club race has been blown wide open

WHEN my Gaoth Dobhair team were fortunate enough to be still in competition at this time of year, we used to love these few months.

There is something special about still training this time of year, because that means that you are on the verge of doing something extraordinary. Most county finals are played at this stage and we now move on to the provincial series which takes on a life of its own.

Already in the football championship, current All-Ireland club champions Glen have fallen by the wayside up in Derry so not alone does it open up the race for the Andy Merrigan Cup, it blows Ulster wide open.

I’m sure every other title holder in Ulster sat up and took notice last weekend as Newbridge snatched their victory and a lot of teams will return to training this weekend with an extra pep in their step.

Alongside reigning champions Glen, hotly-fancied Kilmacud also made their exit in Dublin to Cuala so this year‘s race for the All-Ireland title will be very interesting.

This weekend, Donegal champions St Eunan’s get their Ulster campaign underway when they play newly-crowned Tyrone champions Errigal Ciaran.

I have said here on a number of occasions that without doubt St Eunan’s have been the best team in Donegal this year but I still believe that even though they won the title, they are still playing within themselves. That approach will win you a county title but it won’t be enough to fire you to provincial glory.

This weekend I’d like to see the Letterkenny outfit throw the shackles off and have a real go because they have the players within their ranks to do just that. St Eunan’s have some very exciting forwards but for some reason in Donegal this year they just didn’t use them enough.

They face up against an Errigal Ciaran team laced with talent so I think the Tyrone champions would be all on for a shoot-out.

Tyrone teams have struggled in this competition in recent times so I’m sure that this is something Enda McGinley and his management team will be keen to change.

As previously stated, this team is laced with talent and when you have the firepower of the two Canavans up front then you are always going to be hard to stop.

I fully expect and I hope that St Eunan’s go toe-to-toe with them and the thing that might just tip the scale in Errigal’s favour is that the game is to be played in Omagh. A home game at this stage in the competition is absolutely massive.

All of that said, I think that the neutrals are in for a real cracker on Saturday night as the Ulster Club Championship gets underway. Over the next few weeks we will see some fantastic games of football and like always, the Ulster Club will reign supreme over the rest of the country.

With Glen now out, the big question on everyone’s lips will be who will take their place? So let the games begin.

Just before I finish up, I’d like to touch on the new rules that were tried out once again.

I understand it will take a lot of getting used to and there will be a few tweaks here and there, but the potential we witnessed at the inter-pros was absolutely massive, especially as I sat and watched some club championship games last weekend where the play was very slow and methodical.

I think that in 2025 we will see things change for the better. Here’s hoping anyway!